So from the perspective of clubs it's not in their interests to take on the risk of managing a stadium that may in a couple of decades be required to undergo major structural renovations for either damage or updated legislation, is what you're saying?

As someone who knows admittedly next to nothing about these things, this seems eminently sensible, unless cities are keen to hold onto assets as zealously as possible (compare to UK, where local authorities will sell off basically anything with an upkeep cost for 40 quid and a bag of chips).

As you say, setting expectations that can't be maintained might lead to attendances backsliding down the line.

I think those two clubs specifically have a solid enough chance given their catchment areas (albeit Machida has obviously more immediate competition despite the 420k population), but they're definitely playing on cheat mode at the moment.

I wonder if it won’t all go the way of the dot-com bubble with clubs like this, though. The Zelvia attendance for the final was really disappointing and you wonder how much they can grow longer term if that’s all they can muster for a decent shot at silverware.

Yeah, it is. I think ultimately we'll need something to change financially to see any sustained improvement in our overall standing as a J1 club, but given there was a specific goal of staying up for the first two seasons, it's mission accomplished for the time being.

That 38k Kashima game at the end obviously the difference, but attendances staying solid overall is how I'm reading these numbers.

A counter-rumour saying he’s highly likely to stay. Who knows.

I think that’s me and wee Kaz.

Makes the LDP look like they're doing something about those damn foreigners without actually doing anything at all. So far all I can make out functionally is a load of visa hikes that will punish the low-paid service/care staff that they claim they need.

The magical dichotomy of whining about Chinese takeover of Japanese land and property and picking pointless bunfights with Beijing, while building huge amounts of real estate on a scale that only a Chinese overseas property speculator market is capable of hoovering up.

I read the Tokyo Dome was going to become luxury apartments, but can't find anything definitive.

Oh no I understood you, sorry. But I think Tsukiji is the most likely (though still not that likely), since we'd need the most generous benefactor to either buy us, give us or lease us the kind of prime Bunkyo real estate Tokyo Dome sits on at a price we'd be able to afford.

Why you’d build a football stadium that no-one can actually use is anyone’s guess, but Alex Kerr could give you a million examples of breathtaking wastefulness in this country, so 🤷‍♂️

Maybe it was you on Twitter that suggested Yumenoshima a while ago (someone did). That would be my choice by a mile if we had the pick of anywhere. I know there’s a football pitch going in this Tsukiji Giants development but am hearing it’s artificial pitch so can’t be used for J.League.

They need city support. Not happening. Japan has many problems and a shit-ton of atrocious management and waste, and this is like third-tier level when it comes to things they have to think about and make an arse of.

Tokyo is riddled with athletics tracks. Fuck-all football stadiums though. Joined up old-man Japanese thinking. You just know it’s gone through eight layers of doddery old pricks to end up with something nobody needs.

Doubly idiotic that Ajista is fucking never actually used for athletics.