[Yamagata Prefecture] Two quietly burning professional teams loved by the citizens of Yamagata Prefecture [Introduction to professional sports in six Tohoku prefectures]

The pioneer of professional sports in Yamagata Prefecture is Montedio Yamagata, which joined the J2 Soccer League in 1999 when it was established.

Montedio has been promoted to J1 twice and professional sports are booming, and in 2013 the Wyverns was established as the second professional sports team in the Basketball Hall B League.

In addition, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles professional baseball team (secondary team) holds official Eastern League games with Yamagata Prefecture as its associate franchise.

Montedio Yamagata (Soccer: Meiji Yasuda Life J League)

The team's predecessor was the "NEC Yamagata" soccer club that was founded in 1984, and the team name was changed to the current "Montedio Yamagata" in 1996 after being promoted to the JFL. This season, they are not doing well in J2, ranking 21st with 3 wins and 8 losses as of April 22nd, but they were promoted to J1 from 2009 to 2011 and 2015, so there is hope for a comeback from here. It has been.

What does Montedio mean? What is the team color?

Montedio, which means ``god of the mountains,'' is a coined word that combines the Italian words ``Monte,'' which means ``mountain,'' and ``Dio,'' which means ``god.'' It symbolizes the surrounded Yamagata Prefecture.

The mascots are two gods named "Montes" and "Dio" who descended on Yamagata.

The club emblem is painted in the club colors of blue and yellow with snowflakes and the Dewa Sanzan motifs.

Montedio Yamagata’s journey so far

Before joining the J-League, they won four consecutive championships (1990-1993) in the Tohoku Amateur Soccer League, and were promoted to the JFL in 1994.

• 1999: Participated in what was then "J League Division 2" when the J League became a two-division system.
• December 2008: 2nd place in season and promotion to J1
• November 2011: Ranked last in J1 after 3 seasons and was demoted to J2.
• 2014: Placed 6th in J2, won the promotion playoffs, and returned to J1.
• November 2015: Finished the season in 18th place and was demoted to J2.

Where is Montedio Yamagata's hometown?

Home towns are all cities, towns and villages within Yamagata Prefecture.

The home stadium is ND Soft Stadium Yamagata (Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park Track and Field Stadium) located in Benibana Sports Park (Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park) in Tendo City, commonly known as ND Star. .

"ND" stands for "ND Software" located in Nanyo City, Yamagata Prefecture, with which the company has had a naming rights agreement since 2007.

INFORMATION

• Team name: Montedio Yamagata
• Office address: 1-1 Sanno, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-666-8882
• URL: Montedio Yamagata official website

• Home stadium name: ND Soft Stadium Yamagata
• Address: Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park, 1-1 Sanno, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 994-0000
• Phone number: 023-655-5900
• URL: Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park Official Website

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Pass Lab Yamagata Wyverns (Basketball: B League)

The official name of the team is ``Pass Lab Yamagata Wyverns.'' ``Pass Lab'' is the name of the team's operating company, and its meaning is ``a research institute that develops paths from person to person,'' and represents the team spirit.

They have been in the B2 East region since the 2016-17 season when the B League was established, and their record in the 2022-23 season was 26 wins, 34 losses, and 6th place among the 7 teams in the B2 East region.

What does wyvans mean? What is the team color?

The nickname was chosen after the legendary dragon "Wyvern" through a public contest.

His attacks are as ferocious as a dragon's, but his situational judgment always remains calm, giving the image of him controlling the game.

The team color is ``WAKEN VIOLET'', and the noble purple, which is a combination of passionate red and calm blue, is considered to be a color suitable for the quietly passionate people of Yamagata Prefecture.

The team logo was designed by the Tohoku University of Art and Design Graphic Design Department design team "ASSIST."

The Wyvern's characteristic bat wings, eagle legs, and snake tail are drawn in purple, symbolizing the dragon waking up in Yamagata and taking flight.

Yamagata Wyverns’ journey so far

In 2013, the Tochigi Brex's junior team "TGI D-RISE" was its predecessor, and Pass Lab was established through franchise relocation and the Wyverns was born.

• 2015: When the B League was born, it was decided to enter the B2 East region with Yamagata City as its hometown.
• 2017: Changed hometown to Tendo City and home arena to Yamagata Sports Park General Gymnasium
• 2021: Advances to the playoffs as a wild card but loses in the quarterfinals

What is the home arena of Yamagata Wyverns?

Similar to Montedio soccer, the home arena is the general gymnasium located in the Benibana Sports Park in Tendo City.

The operating company, Pass Lab, has its headquarters in Yamagata City, and previously used the Yamagata City General Sports Center as its home, but moved in 2016 because an arena with a capacity of 5,000 or more was required for promotion to B1. Ta.

In addition to these two arenas, official matches are also held at the Nanyo Civic Gymnasium.

INFORMATION

• Team name: Pass Lab Yamagata Wyverns
• Office address: Diversity Media 2F, 1-2-4 Akoyacho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-664-3646
• URL: Yamagata Wyverns official website

• Home stadium name: Benibana Sports Park General Gymnasium
• Location: Yamagata Sports Park, 1-1 Sanno, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-655-5905
• URL: Yamagata Sports Park official website

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Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Baseball: Eastern League)

Rakuten Eagles Eastern League official game held

Until 2015, the Eagles' home base was in both Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, but from 2016, at the request of the league, the Eagles' farm was only in Miyagi prefecture. A battle is being held.

In 2023, the Eastern League official game will be held at Yamagata City's "Kirayaka Stadium (Yamagata General Sports Center Baseball Field)" on August 27th, and the first team official game will be held at the same stadium on May 17th. will be done. However, due to various circumstances, there are no plans to hold the event in Tendo City this year, and it is hoped that it will be held again next season.

INFORMATION

• Stadium name: Kirayaka Stadium (Yamagata Sports Center Baseball Stadium)
• Location: 1 Ochiaicho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-687-1789
• URL: Yamagata City official website

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summary

This season, Yamagata Prefecture's professional sports team, the Wyverns, finished the season in 6th place in the B2 East region.

Also, Montedio is in a bad situation, languishing in the bottom half of the J2 league, but with the passionate support of Yamagata Prefecture's boosters and supporters, let's support both teams and push them up!

Also, in Yamagata City, the Golden Eagles professional baseball team will be holding an official Pacific League game, so please come and support Tohoku's professional baseball team.