Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium Explained

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
Logo Image:Edion Arena Osaka logo.gif
Fullname:Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
Location:Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Japan
Opened:January 31, 1987
Owner:Osaka Prefecture
Operator:Nankai Building Service
Capacity:8,000
Website:http://www.furitutaiikukaikan.jp/

is an indoor sporting arena located in Namba, Osaka, Japan. It first opened in 1952 and the current building was constructed in 1987. It is the venue of a professional sumo tournament (honbasho) held in March every year. The capacity of the arena is 8,000 people. Its total revenue for the 2006 fiscal year was 260 million yen, of which sumo provided 80 million.

In April 2008 the Japan Sumo Association made clear its surprise at plans by the prefectural government to demolish the gymnasium and sell the vacant lot.[1]

In March 2012, the arena was renamed after the naming rights were sold to sports apparel company BB Sports for the next three years.[2] The name was changed back in April 2015, when BB Sports did not renew their deal.[3] In June 2015, EDION Corporation signed a three-year deal for the arena's naming rights, renaming it .[4]

It has hosted several professional wrestling shows, including Osaka Hurricane from 2005 to 2012, NJPW Dominion from 2009 to 2014, NJPW Power Struggle since 2011, and The New Beginning in Osaka since 2012.

On October 12, 2019, the venue hosted the Rizin 19 mixed martial arts fight.

On February 22, 2023, the International Lethwei Federation Japan held a Lethwei event called Japan 15 - Kizuna at the venue.[5]

Cultural references

Access

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sumo world puzzled by plan to close Osaka Pref. gymnasium. Daily Yomiuri online. 2008-04-15. 2008-04-29.
  2. Web site: 大阪府立体育会館 4月から「ボディメーカー コロシアム」 ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 社会 . 2013-10-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020061355/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2012/03/14/kiji/K20120314002827030.html . 2013-10-20 .
  3. Meltzer . Dave . Dave Meltzer . April 13, 2015 . April 13, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: SmackDown to USA Network, AJ Lee retires, UFC drug czar, death of Steve Rickard, and much more . . . 1083-9593 . 30 .
  4. Web site: 大阪府立体育会館の新愛称は「エディオンアリーナ大阪」 契約料は… - 産経West . 2015-06-25 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064404/http://www.sankei.com/west/news/150617/wst1506170074-n1.html . 2016-03-04 .
  5. Web site: Myanma lethwei event to be held in Osaka. January 13, 2020. Global New Light of Myanmar. A Myanmar traditional lethwei event titled ‘Lethwei in Japan 15 - Kizuna’ will be held on 22 February at the Edion Arena, Osaka City, Japan.