Peeking out from Higashi Hirao Park, Best Denki Stadium awaits. It stands ready to roar with the energy of fans. This stadium is more than just a venue. It embodies Fukuoka’s passion for sports.
Best Denki Stadium is located in Hakata Ward of Fukuoka. It’s the home of Avispa Fukuoka. The J1 League association football club calls this stadium home. Before 2020, it was known as Level-5 Stadium. The name changed when Best Denki, a local electronics retailer, acquired naming rights.
Imagine the stadium in 1995. It was built for the Universiade Fukuoka Tournament. Fukuoka needed a venue to host the football matches. Best Denki Stadium became Fukuoka’s first football-specific stadium.
But Best Denki Stadium isn’t just for football. It also hosts rugby union matches. International matches and Top League games find their home here. In 2009, it hosted four games in the IRB Junior World Championship. The stadium played host to games in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. During the Rugby World Cup, the stadium was known as Hakatanomori Stadium.
Getting to Best Denki Stadium is easy. It is a short bus ride or a 15–20-minute walk from Fukuoka Airport. The stadium has a seating capacity of 21,562.
Avispa Fukuoka has called Best Denki Stadium home since it opened in 1995. The stadium has witnessed the team’s ups and downs. Avispa Fukuoka was founded in 1982 as Chuo Bohan SC. The team moved to Fukuoka in 1994.
The stadium has seen its share of international football matches. Japan defeated Mexico 3-2 here in 1996. Japan also beat South Korea 2-0 in 1995. In 2024, Myanmar and Lebanon played a friendly match here.
The stadium has hosted rugby matches. Japan played against Australia A in 2008. Japan dominated the Philippines in 2013. Italy defeated Canada in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. France won against the United States in 2019. Ireland defeated Samoa in 2019.
So, next time you’re in Fukuoka, come visit Best Denki Stadium. Feel the echoes of past victories. Experience the excitement of the present. This is a place where sporting history comes alive.