Kashima Antlers will be making some changes to their operational rules and entrance routes for the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Plan League. These changes aim to further enliven the area outside the stadium and improve the flow and convenience for all visitors.
To ensure a safer and more comfortable new season for everyone, we kindly request your understanding and cooperation regarding the following changes.
◼︎Implementation Date
The changes will be applied starting from the match against Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday, February 14, 2026, which is the second match of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Plan League Regional League Round EAST.
1. Operating the road on the south side outside the stadium as a timed "pedestrian-only street"
To improve the flow and convenience for all visitors, a timed pedestrian-only street will be introduced on a part of the outer road surrounding the stadium.
However, during the times when the Kashima Antlers team bus enters, the road will continue to operate as a vehicle road as before. For safe match operation, we kindly ask for your cooperation in following the instructions of staff during transitions.
◼︎Affected Area
The outer road on the south side outside Mercari Stadium (from the crosswalk in front of Kashima Sports Center to the crosswalk in front of Mercari Road) *Yellow-colored area on the MAP below.
◼︎Pedestrian Access Hours
・5 hours before kickoff to 2 hours before kickoff *Times may change depending on the match.
・After the team bus arrives at the venue until kickoff
◼︎Request for Cooperation
・Staff will guide the transition between the pedestrian-only street and the vehicle road. Please follow instructions and proceed safely.
・It is extremely dangerous to cross forcibly during regulatory changes or to obstruct vehicle traffic, so please refrain from doing so.
・Please note that regulatory times may change depending on the situation on the day of the match.
2. Changes to the entrance route for the Mercari Stadium front parking lot
With the introduction of the "pedestrian-only street," we will change the entrance route for the front parking lot as follows to ensure smooth entry and exit by separating the flow of general visitors.
◼︎Target
Those using the front parking lot (F, G, V parking lots)
◼︎Changes
The entrance route will be changed from the conventional "south outer road" to entry from the "north outer road."
*When leaving after the start of the match, both the north and south outer roads can be used, but exit from the north outer road will be limited to "left-turn exit."
◼︎Request for Cooperation
・On the day, please be sure to present your parking pass and follow the guidance of security guards to safely park your car.
・For safety, please drive slowly inside the venue and on the outer roads.
3. Expansion of the front area of the north and south upper-tier stands
Previously, the front three rows of the north and south upper-tier stands were restricted, but starting from the Meiji Yasuda J1 Centennial Plan League, they will be opened as a sales area. As this is an area with a steep slope in the upper tier, we ask for your cooperation in observing the following viewing rules to ensure everyone can enjoy the match safely.
◼︎Affected Area
Front 3 rows of the north and south upper-tier stands
◼︎Viewing Rules
・Due to the steep slope, please enjoy the match while seated.
・To prevent falls, it is forbidden to place or hang objects on the front handrails.
・The use of flags larger than commercially available L-flags (1,015mm x 1,575mm) is prohibited.
・Leaning over or putting your feet on the handrails is extremely dangerous and strictly prohibited.
◼︎Other
・The North upper-tier stand will only be opened for sales. The area covered may vary depending on the match.
・The upper area of the visitor-only seats (including the lower buffer area) will not be available for sale, as before.
4. Addition of re-entry gates and changes to operations
To improve convenience for accessing the area outside the venue, we will be adding re-entry gates and making some changes to their operations.
◼︎Re-entry gates
・Added gates: Gate 1, Gate 6
・Existing gates: NIPPON STEEL Gate, Gate 5, Wheelchair-only Gate
◼︎Operational changes
NIPPON STEEL Gate: To alleviate congestion, the "IN lane" and "OUT lane" exclusively for re-entry will be changed as follows:
We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause to our visitors, but we kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation as these measures are being taken to provide a safer and more comfortable viewing experience.