Upset in J.League's Premier "Gourmet Sanctuary"!? Kashima Antlers to Host "Staguru New Hero General Election" with Absence of Absolute Champions at May 6 (Wed/Holiday) Mito Match!
Kashima Antlers will hold the "Staguru New Hero General Election" at the Mito match on May 6. This fan-participation event aims to decide the new "face" of stadium gourmet by inducting classic popular menu items into the Hall of Fame.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 11:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 11:38 (6 min after Collected)
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (a public holiday), the “Staguru New Hero General Election,” an event to determine the next generation ace of stadium gourmet, will be held at Mercari Road and inside the stadium during the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 15 match against Mito HollyHock.
■ Held with the “Absence” of the Overwhelmingly Popular “Big 3 Gourmet” by Inducting Them into the Hall of Fame
The gourmet food at Mercari Stadium is highly praised by J.League fans and supporters as “the best in Japan.” In particular, the “BIG3” (3 menu items) – “Ham Yaki” (Goura Ham), “Motsuni” (various vendors), and “Harami Meshi” (Izakaya Dream) – are overwhelmingly popular as symbols of the stadium.
In this general election, these three menu items will deliberately be designated as “Hall of Fame” and thus excluded from voting.
With the absence of these absolute champions, new “New Heroes” will be selected by visitors' votes from among the entry menu items proudly offered by each participating vendor.
Don’t just stick to the “usual”; please come and discover your new favorite taste!
【Hall of Fame Menu Items (Excluded from Voting)】
・Ham Yaki (Goura Ham)
・Motsuni (Kashima Meat Industry Cooperative, and other various vendors)
・Harami Meshi (Izakaya Dream)
*The above menu items and arranged Motsuni dishes are excluded from this year’s voting as “Hall of Fame” due to their overwhelming popularity.
*Vendors offering Hall of Fame menu items – “Goura Ham,” “Kashima Meat Industry Cooperative,” and “Izakaya Dream” – will display the “Hall of Fame” title.
Your vote creates the “next generation ace.” A fan-participation gourmet event.
On the day of the event, the first 30,000 visitors to the stadium will receive a “limited design sticker (with voting QR code).”
Participants can vote for their favorite gourmet item on the spot from their smartphones after tasting it at the stadium. The vendors of the selected “New Hero Menu” will receive a limited POP displaying the title of “New Hero” to be displayed at their storefronts from the next home game.
Join this event where the club and fans unite to create a new specialty of the stadium.
Event Overview
■Target Match
May 6, 2026 (Wednesday, Public Holiday) Kick-off at 16:00 (Stadium expected to open at 13:00)
Meiji Yasuda J1 League 100-Year Vision League Regional League Round EAST Section 15 vs Mito HollyHock
*Congestion at entry is expected one hour before kick-off. Please allow ample time for arrival.
■Venue
Mercari Stadium (26-2 Kohyaji, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture)
■Voting Period
May 6 (Wed/Holiday) 11:00 – 16:00
*Voting will close at the kick-off of the first half.
■Results Announcement
・Interim Results
Scheduled to be announced around 14:00 on May 6 (Wed/Holiday) on the club’s official X (formerly Twitter).
・Final Results Announcement
Will be announced on the club’s official SNS, etc., on the match day or the following day.
Main Features:
1. "Staguru New Hero General Election" Voting Implemented
First release of participating vendors and their entry menu items! See details.
2. Limited Sticker Present for the First 30,000 Visitors
This limited sticker features the event visual and a voting QR code.
Distribution locations: All entrance gates except Gate 7
*Images are for illustrative purposes.
3. Special Photo Spot Exclusively for This Match!
Enjoy the event by taking photos with your favorite stadium gourmet and at the photo spot!
Location: Near Mercari Road
*Images are for illustrative purposes.
Mercari Stadium’s gourmet experience is now almost as important as watching the match itself. By deliberately excluding the classic popular menus this time, we aim to shine a spotlight on hidden, exquisite items that are not yet well-known. We encourage not only soccer fans but also those looking for a gourmet experience to visit and discover their new favorite dish!
■ Held with the “Absence” of the Overwhelmingly Popular “Big 3 Gourmet” by Inducting Them into the Hall of Fame
The gourmet food at Mercari Stadium is highly praised by J.League fans and supporters as “the best in Japan.” In particular, the “BIG3” (3 menu items) – “Ham Yaki” (Goura Ham), “Motsuni” (various vendors), and “Harami Meshi” (Izakaya Dream) – are overwhelmingly popular as symbols of the stadium.
In this general election, these three menu items will deliberately be designated as “Hall of Fame” and thus excluded from voting.
With the absence of these absolute champions, new “New Heroes” will be selected by visitors' votes from among the entry menu items proudly offered by each participating vendor.
Don’t just stick to the “usual”; please come and discover your new favorite taste!
【Hall of Fame Menu Items (Excluded from Voting)】
・Ham Yaki (Goura Ham)
・Motsuni (Kashima Meat Industry Cooperative, and other various vendors)
・Harami Meshi (Izakaya Dream)
*The above menu items and arranged Motsuni dishes are excluded from this year’s voting as “Hall of Fame” due to their overwhelming popularity.
*Vendors offering Hall of Fame menu items – “Goura Ham,” “Kashima Meat Industry Cooperative,” and “Izakaya Dream” – will display the “Hall of Fame” title.
Your vote creates the “next generation ace.” A fan-participation gourmet event.
On the day of the event, the first 30,000 visitors to the stadium will receive a “limited design sticker (with voting QR code).”
Participants can vote for their favorite gourmet item on the spot from their smartphones after tasting it at the stadium. The vendors of the selected “New Hero Menu” will receive a limited POP displaying the title of “New Hero” to be displayed at their storefronts from the next home game.
Join this event where the club and fans unite to create a new specialty of the stadium.
Event Overview
■Target Match
May 6, 2026 (Wednesday, Public Holiday) Kick-off at 16:00 (Stadium expected to open at 13:00)
Meiji Yasuda J1 League 100-Year Vision League Regional League Round EAST Section 15 vs Mito HollyHock
*Congestion at entry is expected one hour before kick-off. Please allow ample time for arrival.
■Venue
Mercari Stadium (26-2 Kohyaji, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture)
■Voting Period
May 6 (Wed/Holiday) 11:00 – 16:00
*Voting will close at the kick-off of the first half.
■Results Announcement
・Interim Results
Scheduled to be announced around 14:00 on May 6 (Wed/Holiday) on the club’s official X (formerly Twitter).
・Final Results Announcement
Will be announced on the club’s official SNS, etc., on the match day or the following day.
Main Features:
1. "Staguru New Hero General Election" Voting Implemented
First release of participating vendors and their entry menu items! See details.
2. Limited Sticker Present for the First 30,000 Visitors
This limited sticker features the event visual and a voting QR code.
Distribution locations: All entrance gates except Gate 7
*Images are for illustrative purposes.
3. Special Photo Spot Exclusively for This Match!
Enjoy the event by taking photos with your favorite stadium gourmet and at the photo spot!
Location: Near Mercari Road
*Images are for illustrative purposes.
Mercari Stadium’s gourmet experience is now almost as important as watching the match itself. By deliberately excluding the classic popular menus this time, we aim to shine a spotlight on hidden, exquisite items that are not yet well-known. We encourage not only soccer fans but also those looking for a gourmet experience to visit and discover their new favorite dish!