Japan’s Kashima Stadium will become the setting of a zombie pandemic next month when the former World Cup venue hosts ‘Kashima Zombie Stadium,’ a collaboration between J.League champions Kashima Antlers, video game developers Taito, and haunted house producers Obaken.
The May 3 event is the latest entry in Japan’s ‘escape room’ craze, which began in 2007 and has since expanded globally.
The club released a video promoting Zombie Stadium on Wednesday, showing fans and Antlers greats such as former Samurai Blue midfielder Koji Nakata attempting to flee hordes of the undead.
Participants will work to solve puzzles in four areas and discover a “cure” for an infection which has struck members of a Kashima Antlers Legends team while avoiding capture by zombies roaming the grounds.
Fans who clear all four areas as well as a bonus puzzle will be entered in a lottery to win prizes such as autographed uniforms and match-used balls.
The event, which will also feature retired Antlers players Yutaka Akita and Akira Narahashi, is recruiting volunteers to act as zombies and self defense force members.
Those who escape Zombie Stadium will likely have plenty of stories to share with their fellow supporters the following day when Antlers travel to play archrivals Urawa Reds in the 10th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League.