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| Hanshin Kōshien Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Koshien Stadium | |
| Location | Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan |
| Opened | August 1, 1924 |
| Expanded | 2007–2010 |
| Owner | Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. |
| Operator | Hanshin Tigers Co. Hanshin Engei Co. |
| Architect | Ōbayashi gumi |
| Former names | Koshien Large Sports Field (1924–) Koshien Stadium (–1964) |
| Tenants | |
| Hanshin Tigers (Central League/NPB) – (1936–present) National High School Baseball Championship (JHSBF) – (1924–1940, 1947–present) National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (JHSBF) – (1925–present) | |
| Capacity | |
| approx. 60,000 (from the opening) approx. 80,000 (after the completion of all the seats) approx. 55,000 (–2001) approx. 53,000 (2003) 50,454 (2002, 2004–2007) 46,229 (2008) 47,808 (2009–2011) 47,757 (2012–?) 47,400[1] | |
| Dimensions | |
| Left Field — 95 m (312 ft) Left Center Field — 118 m (387 ft) Center Field — 118 m (387 ft) Right Center Field — 118 m (387 ft) Right Field — 95 m (312 ft) | |
Hanshin Kōshien Stadium (阪神甲子園球場 Hanshin Kōshien Kyūjō?), commonly referred to as simply Koshien Stadium, is a baseball park located near Kobe in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The stadium was built to host the national high school baseball tournaments, and opened on August 1, 1924. It was the largest stadium in Asia at the time it was completed, with a capacity of 55,000.
The name Kōshien (甲子園) comes from Wood Rat of the Sexagenary cycle system. The year of the stadium's founding, 1924, was the first year kōshi (甲子) in the cycle. The design of the stadium was heavily influenced by the Polo Grounds in New York City. In 1936 it became the home stadium for the Osaka Tigers (current Hanshin Tigers), now with the Central League. On February 14, 1964, Hanshin, the Tigers' owners, was appended to the name of Koshien Stadium.