Open House Arena Ota

The first thing you notice is the white gate. It is a simple, rectangular frame standing over the road, and on its pillar the city name is carved in Japanese characters. Behind it the buildings are not a single block but a series of planes and slopes, with red brick work at the bottom and a sharp white angle rising above.

The building itself is new, having replaced the old city gymnasium that once stood here. It opened in 2023 after the private sector and the city agreed to fund the project. The capacity sits at five thousand, though some seats are mobile and can be folded away if the layout needs to change. The floor is synthetic, designed for basketball, and the stands curve around the court in a cone shape.

The Gunma Crane Thunders play here. They are a professional side in the B1 Eastern Division, and the arena is their home court. The team also hosts other events, including matches for the women's volleyball side, the Gunma Green Wings. There is a large screen in the centre of the roof and seven private rooms for guests. The design is meant to fit the town, which has a population of about 220,000. It is not a massive venue, but it holds the games when they come to Ōta.