[Kashima Antlers] 'Traditional Pitch' Connecting to Future Players Completed and Operational: 'Junior Training Ground' Reusing Top Team's Natural Grass

We are pleased to announce the completion and commencement of operations for a new training ground for juniors (elementary school age), utilizing support from the "Antlers for the Future 2025" hometown tax-based crowdfunding project conducted in 2025.

The ground began operations on March 28th (Saturday) with a match by academy junior players, held as a return event for crowdfunding donors.

This project was implemented with the aim of creating an environment where junior players, the only ones in the club's development organization without a dedicated training environment, can immerse themselves in daily training within the areas where the top team and other academy categories operate, allowing them to grow while feeling close to the older generations on a daily basis.

Junior Training Ground Overview This ground was designed with an emphasis on fostering player growth across categories, not only by improving their technical skills but also by reducing the physical distance between training facilities.

### ■ Strengthening Inter-Category Collaboration through Proximity of Development Environments The new ground is adjacent to the junior youth (junior high school age) ground and is located in close proximity to the training bases for the youth and top teams. By having each category operate in close-knit areas, we have created an environment where junior players can experience the standards of higher categories on a daily basis and smoothly step up.

### ■ Environmental Succession through Reuse of Top Team Practice Field's Natural Grass The turf for the ground has been transplanted and reused from the natural grass of the top team's practice field, which was renovated in the 2024 project. We have created a ground where players can train with a sense of the club's tradition, inheriting the environment where professional athletes have honed their skills, for the junior age group.

Crowdfunding Results The development of this facility was made possible through the generous support of many individuals via crowdfunding, utilizing the hometown tax system of Itako City.

**■ Project Name:** Antlers for the Future 2025

**■ Total Funding Amount:** ¥66,780,000

**■ Number of Supporters:** 1,268

**■ Implementation Period:** September 17, 2025 - December 16, 2025

We express our deepest gratitude once again to everyone who provided their immense cooperation. We will continue to strive for further enrichment of our development system, making the fullest use of this environment where junior players can grow while feeling close to the top team and youth players, and continuously nurture players who will carry the club's future.