• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 22 August 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Giving Yokohama a sporting chance

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Thu 30 Sep 2021 at 04:56
Melco Resorts officially ends Yokohama IR pursuit, closes office
56
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The Yokohama integrated resort designed by Melco Resorts & Entertainment was planned to be home to a number of major sporting groups, including a major tennis organization in Japan, IAG has learned.

Both Melco and the other contender to develop a Yokohama IR, Genting Singapore, were forced to drop their bids earlier this month when the city’s new mayor, Takeharu Yamanaka, officially cancelled further pursuit of an IR license.

That decision not only ends any chances of integrated resort development in the near future but also a variety of initiatives that the operators had been working on with the local community.

Melco told IAG that one of its planned initiatives was to build a sports center within the IR following input from the company’s brand ambassador, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka. Naomi had suggested to the developer that it’s important to provide a variety of sporting options for people because when she was growing up and when she trains now, she likes to play a whole range of different sports rather than just tennis.

The sports center would have included a football ground that would have been a training ground for local teams, because they don’t have many suitable facilities. A major tennis organization in Japan would have also made the center their training ground.

Melco officially joined the Yokohama IR race in September 2019 after the city’s then-mayor Fumiko Hayashi declared its intention to bid, and in the two years since had embarked on a range of initiatives aimed at connecting with the local community.

The company’s work began with a collaboration alongside the Kyoto Cultural Association that saw them commission 23 museum-quality kimono pieces to raise awareness of the kimono and its cultural value. Thirteen of these detailed and skilled works were then displayed at an exhibition in Tokyo, attracting significant public and media attention.

Melco also ran an event called “Smart Summer” in Motomachi, Yokohama, which aimed to support local tourism and economic growth by drawing crowds to the district.

Among the cornerstone initiatives of Melco’s community work was its sponsorship of professional football team Yokohama F Marinos. This relationship grew over time and in March this year the two organizations signed a partner contract to provide support for select shopping streets across the city.

Melco partnered with local football team Yokohama F. Marinos.

The “Stay Strong Together and Support our Hometown Shopping Streets!” project saw five streets invited to a Yokohama F Marinos home game where a shopping street support video, produced by Melco, introduced the participating streets on the stadium’s large screens. Supported by free tickets and signed goods giveaways plus social media posts to promote sales, the project aimed to increase awareness of shopping options in areas impacted by COVID-19.

In the proposal, Melco had repeatedly expressed its desire to be part of the city, creating awareness and connecting with local people. A senior Melco executive mentioned, “We didn’t want to be the foreigners coming in to dictate things.”

Within the IR itself, Melco was also planning to develop a dedicated food and beverage space, called Bamboo Village, specifically for local restaurateurs to open businesses, as well as a similar concept for local retailers.

Evan Winkler, President of Melco Resorts and Entertainment, told IAG, “One of the things that has always set us apart is the depth to which we care about our impact on the world we all share. We respect and are sensitive to the local ways of doing things.

“Collaboration and partnership with authorities and local organizations is a core principle of this, and we invest in strengthening these relationships with efforts that are tailor-made for each of our communities.

“Ever since Melco began its journey in Japan 10 years ago, we have been committed to being a great partner and a force for good in the community. For 10 years, we have collaborated with authorities, local businesses, charities, educational institutions and community organizations to create unique programs that address specific local issues and needs of the community.

“From enhancing economic prosperity of local suppliers and SMEs, to promoting sports and wellness with Yokohama F. Marinos and our brand ambassador Naomi Osaka, as well as promoting Japan’s culture and heritage, we are immensely grateful for the friendships that we have built with our local community partners in Yokohama and Japan.”

RelatedPosts

Improved Okada Manila performance not enough to push Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp back to profit in 2021

Japan’s Universal falls to US$69 million loss in 1H25 on Okada Manila underperformance

Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 12:56
Konami reveals strong growth for Gaming and Systems segment despite group-wide declines in 1H20

Konami’s Gaming & Systems suffers decline in in June quarter profits on competitive environment, rising tariff costs

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 05:44
In the crosshairs

Fitch: No clear near-term recovery path for Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 06:08
Internet casino in Tokyo’s Shinjuku shut down

Japan asks eight countries to block its citizens from gambling on online sites

Wed 18 Jun 2025 at 07:00
Load More
Tags: Evan WinklerirJapanmayorMelco Resorts & EntertainmentNaomi OsakaTakeharu YamanakaYokohama
Share22Share4
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

Wynn Macau

Wynn Macau Ltd to redeem in full US$1 billion of outstanding notes due 2026 in September

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 11:00

Wynn Macau Ltd confirmed Friday that it will redeem in full senior notes due 2026 and valued at US$1 billion on 2 September 2025. The redemption includes the company’s US$750 million 5.500% senior notes due 2026 issued in June 2020...

Indian court denies request to block all online gambling sites during cricket World Cup

Indian parliament bans all real-money online gambling

by Newsdesk
Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 06:21

The Indian parliament has passed a bill that will ban all real-money online gaming, including skill games such as fantasy sports and poker. Reuters reports that India’s upper house passed the controversial Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025...

Sri Lankan cabinet approves creation of Gambling Regulatory Authority

Sri Lankan parliament passes Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 06:03

Sri Lanka’s Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill has been passed by the nation’s parliament with amendments, local media has reported. The Bill, which was gazetted in May under the directives of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister...

Winford Resort & Casino Manila becomes first Philippines IR to commit to 30% plant-based menu by 2026

Winford Resort & Casino Manila becomes first Philippines IR to commit to 30% plant-based menu by 2026

by Newsdesk
Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 05:40

Winford Resort & Casino Manila has become the first gaming complex in the Philippines to publicly commit to a comprehensive plant-forward initiative, pledging to make 30% of all menu offerings plant-based across its food service operations by early next year....

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文
  • 日本語

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English
  • 日本語