Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma

What catches the eye is the track. A red running circuit rings the pitch, separating the stands from the green rectangle. The curve runs close to the touchline, and the distance between the nearest seat and the players is not much greater than the distance to the far end of the lane. It is an old arrangement, one that has been kept through the city’s modernisation. The stadium opened in 1951 as Gunma Shikishima Athletic Stadium, and while the track has remained, the atmosphere has shifted. Thespakusatsu Gunma began playing there in 2005 after promotion to the J2 League.

The most recent change was the arrival of the vision board. A large screen was installed in 2014. These are the landmarks of the ground. The surface is natural grass, and the capacity sits at 15,190. That figure is not a record for the town, but it is enough for the matchday crowd. The team’s supporters are close to the action, sitting behind the running track, watching the players as they move across the turf.

Renovations have been carried out to meet league standards, and in 2024 LED lighting was installed to allow for light shows. The latter is a new feature, but the track is not. It is a reminder of what this place was built for. The stadium is distinct from the adjacent Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium, a separate field opened in 1966. This ground remains a multi-purpose venue, but for most of the year it belongs to the football club. The supporters know this, and they sit close to the players, watching the game unfold over the track.