Ibaraki Robots

What Ibaraki Robots does

Ibaraki Robots is a Japanese professional basketball club based in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, competing in B.League's B1 division and entering the inaugural B.PREMIER division for the 2026-27 season. Founded in 2016 as a B.League founding member, the club operates the parent company Ibaraki Robots Sports Entertainment Co., Ltd., which also controls the wholly-owned subsidiary Ibaraki Sports Town Management Co., Ltd. (operating the M-GARDEN guesthouse near Lake Senba). The club's business spans five distinct revenue streams: game-day ticket sales across three Ibaraki venues (Mito, Hitachinaka, Kashima), official merchandise sales through both physical arena shops and the B.League online shop, the CLUB ROBOTS annual fan membership, corporate sponsorship and arena naming rights, and tuition/fees from the ROBOTS Basketball School and RDT Cheer Dance School across multiple Ibaraki locations.

The club has built a vertically integrated community ecosystem that extends well beyond on-court competition. It fields a B1 men's team plus full U15/U18 youth academy (boys and girls), runs the M-HOPE inclusive community program (wheelchair basketball experiences, IKOU portable chair donations, 55-location share-cycle program), and operates the Robots Times digital media platform. The AI-powered help center chatbot "AI Robosuke's Subordinate" (launched April 2026) handles fan inquiries, and the club also co-markets through the Auris mixed-reality city exploration app developed with GATARI. Major corporate partners include Toyota Corolla Shin-Ibaraki (presenting sponsor of RobotsFES fan events), Resona Group, Joyo Bank, K's Holdings, Globis, And-ST HD (arena naming rights holder), and Joyful Honda. The stated strategic goal is to become Japan's number one basketball team by 2031.

The go-to-market motion is event-driven and direct-to-consumer: 30 B1 home games per season anchor the calendar, supplemented by municipal PR-day partnerships, LuckyFes half-time music collaborations (LuckyFM/BARKS), mascot Robosuke appearances (ranked 11th in B.League Mascot of the Year 2025-26), and community programs across northern and coastal Ibaraki. RobotsFES events distribute T-shirts to up to 13,500 fans per day across three game days. The club is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, parent conglomerate, or equity backers; ownership beyond the corporate entity is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Ibaraki Robots

Legal name

株式会社 茨城ロボッツ・スポーツエンターテインメント

Website

https://ibarakirobots.win

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ibaraki Robots is a Japanese professional basketball club based in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, competing in B.League B1 and entering the inaugural B.PREMIER in 2026-27. It serves Ibaraki fans via ticketed home games across three venues, fan club membership, merchandise, youth basketball/cheer dance schools, and corporate sponsorships, while running community programs (M-HOPE) and a hospitality subsidiary (M-GARDEN).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports Entertainment (Basketball Club Operations)

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB)

Keywords

• Professional basketball team
• Basketball education services
• Sports entertainment operations
• Fan club membership programs
• Community sports outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Mito

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Game day ticket sales: Revenue from selling tickets to B.League regular season and playoff home games across multiple venues (Mito, Hitachinaka, Kashima). Ticket types include standard seats, premium yuttari bench seats, stadium cushion seats, debut supporter areas, and standing-room tickets.
2. Official merchandise sales: Revenue from selling team-branded goods including T-shirts, towels, scarves, megaphones, sound-synchronized penlights, mascot keychains, 'yuru-robo' illustrated merchandise, souvenir cups (スーベニアカップ), and gacha/button badges. Sales occur both online (B.League official shop) and at arena goods shops during game days.
3. CLUB ROBOTS fan club membership: Annual fan club membership program (CLUB ROBOTS) offering benefits such as ticket discounts (CLUB ROBOTS割), priority entry, and exclusive content. Drives recurring subscription-like revenue.
4. Sponsorship and naming rights: Revenue from corporate sponsors in the form of naming rights (アダストリアみとアリーナ), official sponsor partnerships, arena supplier arrangements, media partner agreements, and game-day co-branding collaborations. Major sponsors include Toyota Corolla Shin-Ibaraki, Resona Group, Joyo Bank, Globis, K's Holdings, and And-ST HD.
5. Basketball and cheer dance school fees: Revenue from operating ROBOTS Basketball School (multiple locations in Ibaraki Prefecture including Mito, Tsukuba, and others) and RDT Cheer Dance School. Classes are offered for children, youth, and adults. Enrollment requires an entrance fee (，通常13,000 yen, occasionally discounted to 6,500 yen) and monthly tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ibaraki Robots operates a professional basketball team that competes in Japan's B.LEAGUE (entering the inaugural B.PREMIER division in 2026-27), fielding home games across multiple venues in Ibaraki Prefecture (Mito, Hitachinaka, Kashima). The club sells game tickets, official merchandise, and CLUB ROBOTS fan club memberships directly to consumers, and runs paid basketball and cheer dance schools at multiple locations. It also fields U18/U15 youth teams, manages the M-HOPE community outreach program, and operates the M-GARDEN hospitality facility through a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Product overview

Ibaraki Robots operates as a professional basketball club in Japan's B.LEAGUE (B1 division), offering a comprehensive ecosystem of sports, entertainment, and community services. The core offering is the professional basketball team competing in the B.LEAGUE PREMIER division. Supporting this are two educational programs: ROBOTS Basketball School teaching basketball skills from children to adults, and RDT Cheer Dance School providing cheer dance instruction. The club runs youth development teams (U15/U18) and the M-HOPE community outreach initiative promoting inclusive sports experiences. Additional services include the Robots Times digital media platform, CLUB ROBOTS fan membership, RO-VOLTS volunteer program, and the mascot Robosuke character. The club also operates hospitality facilities including the M-GARDEN guesthouse and M-SPO food services at games. The 2026-27 season marks the club's entry into B.PREMIER.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• M-HOPE: Community outreach and social contribution activities program focused on inclusivity, disability awareness, and regional community engagement.
• ROBOTS Basketball School
• RDT (Robots Dance Team) Cheer Dance School
• RO-VOLTS
• Robosuke (ロボスケ)

Products and services

• B.League Professional Basketball Games (B.PREMIER competition)
• ROBOTS Basketball School
• RDT Cheer Dance School
• Youth Basketball Teams (U18 / U15 boys and girls)
• CLUB ROBOTS Fan Club Membership
• Official Ibaraki Robots Team Merchandise
• Tokiwa-tei M-GARDEN Guesthouse / Hospitality Facility
• AI-Powered Help Center with "AIロボスケの子分" Chatbot
• Robosuke (ロボスケ) Official Mascot Character
• LuckyFes Half Time Show Concert Series
• Robots Times Digital Media Platform
• RO-VOLTS Volunteer Program
• M-HOPE Community Outreach Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 165 participants in M-HOPE wheelchair experience day (Feb 2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supplier.

• 株式会社アンドエスティHDcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 July 2026And-ST HD acquired naming rights to the arena previously known as SIS Facility Arena, renaming it アダストリアみとアリーナ. The company is a gold-level official club sponsor and actively promotes the arena's brand at games and in its corporate communications.
• Toyota Corolla Shin-Ibaraki (トヨタカローラ新茨城)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the RobotsFES fan engagement events at home games, featuring player T-shirt giveaways across multiple game days. Also listed as a regular official sponsor providing automotive partnership support.
• Resona Group (りそなグループ)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of the B.League overall (B.LEAGUE as りそなグループ B.LEAGUE) and primary naming partner for the league. All Ibaraki Robots home games are branded as りそなグループ B.LEAGUE matches, providing national league visibility.
• Joyo Bank (常陽銀行)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the ROBOTIC LIGHTS opening show at home games, a themed light-and-sound entertainment show aligned with the club's futuristic brand identity.
• K's Holdings (株式会社ケーズホールディングス)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the Robots Home Games series, providing financial support and co-branded marketing activations around home game events.
• Globis (株式会社 グロービス)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as an official sponsor on the club's official website footer alongside K's Holdings and ITEC Plus, representing a major corporate partnership for the club.
• ITEC Plus (株式会社アイテックプラス)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor listed on the club's website, providing technology or service support as part of the club's corporate partner ecosystem.
• 株式会社Joyful Honda (ジョイフル本田)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer with Suntory of the 'Ibaraki Robots Support Campaign' — a retail promotion across all Joyful Honda stores where customers purchasing Suntori products receive lottery entries for team merchandise. Also participated in mascot kick-off events.
• Suntory (サントリー)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer with Joyful Honda of the 'Ibaraki Robots Support Campaign' — a nationwide retail promotion across all Joyful Honda stores featuring Suntori products with lottery prizes including signed team uniforms.
• 湖南省立医療大学 (Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Science)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in M-HOPE wheelchair basketball体验 events and youth wellness clinics. The university's ROOTs wheelchair basketball team co-hosts community events at the arena, combining sports medicine expertise with community engagement.
• ROOTs (茨城県立医療大学車いすバスケットボールチーム)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity wheelchair basketball team that co-organizes M-HOPE community events with the club, providing student athletes as instructors and participants in inclusive sports体验 programs.
• 日本原子力発電 (gendennen / げんでん)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of the げんでんキッズパス, a free admission program for elementary schoolers and younger at all home games. Provides inclusive fan development and family engagement as a CSR initiative.
• LuckyFM (ラジカルбар)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer with BARKS of the LuckyFes music festival and the LuckyFes Half Time Show concert series at home games. Provides radio broadcast reach and cross-promotes to music listeners in Ibaraki and beyond.
• BARKS ( Баркс)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer with LuckyFM of the LuckyFes festival and concert series. Japan's leading music media portal provides editorial coverage and cross-promotional reach to music fans.
• Molten ( Molten株式会社)supplierGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial ball supplier for B.League (standard for all B.League clubs). Listed as a supplier partner of the club, providing competition basketballs.
• 株式会社いばらきスポーツタウン・マネジメントcoreOthersA subsidiary of the club that operates the ときわ邸 M-GARDEN guest house near Lake Senba and the M-SPO sports and community plaza, managing sports town regeneration projects in Mito.
• 水戸市 (Mito City Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local government partner. The city collaborates on city PR-day events, share-cycle programs (みとちゃり), parking infrastructure, and public arena access. The club is central to Mito's sports city branding and tourism strategy.
• B.LEAGUE (公益社団法人ジャパン・プロフェッショナル・バスケットボール联赛)coreOthersThe professional basketball league governing the club's B1 division competition, ticketing platform, broadcasting rights, and league-wide sponsorship deals. The club participates in league-organized events including B.Hope Goal, M-HOPE, and mascot awards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Osaka Evessa: Osaka Evessa is a long-standing B.League basketball franchise with similar revenue streams (tickets, merchandise, fan club, schools, sponsorships). Direct comparable for analyzing club-level economics and B.League commercial benchmarks.
• San-en NeoPhoenix: San-en NeoPhoenix is a B.League basketball team based in the Tokai region that appears on Ibaraki Robots' 2026-27 game schedule. Operates a comparable B.League club model with schools, merchandise, fan club, and sponsorships.
• Gunma Crane Thunders: Gunma Crane Thunders is a B.League basketball team also appearing on Ibaraki Robots' 2026-27 schedule. Operates a similar regional basketball franchise model in an adjacent prefecture, providing a comparable benchmark for tier-2 to tier-1 transitions.
• Utsunomiya Brex: Utsunomiya Brex is a top-tier B.League basketball team based in Tochigi Prefecture, adjacent to Ibaraki. Operates a similar vertically integrated model with B.League competition, schools, merchandise, fan clubs, and arena sponsorship, making it the closest geographic and structural peer.
• Shinshu Brave Warriors: Shinshu Brave Warriors is a B.League basketball franchise based in Nagano Prefecture with a comparable operating model including arena partnerships, fan membership, merchandise, and youth development programs.
• Kawasaki Brave Thunders: Kawasaki Brave Thunders is a Kanto-based B.League basketball team with a similar full-stack operating model including arena naming rights, merchandise, fan membership, basketball schools, and community programs. Direct competitor for regional sponsorship budgets and fan attention.
• Yokohama B-Corsairs: Yokohama B-Corsairs is a Kanto-based B.League basketball team with a comparable fan-engagement and sponsorship-driven model. Direct competitor for Kanto media coverage and sponsor share.
• Chiba Jets Funabashi: Chiba Jets Funabashi is a B.League top-tier basketball team based in Chiba, Kanto region. They operate the same B.League ticketing, sponsorship, merchandise, and community program model that Ibaraki Robots uses, making them a direct competitor for Kanto-region sponsors and league positioning.
• Kyoto Hannaryz: Kyoto Hannaryz is a B.League basketball franchise operating a similar mid-tier commercial model with schools, fan clubs, merchandise, and regional sponsorships. Useful peer for benchmarking non-Kanto B.League economics.

Broad incumbents

• B.League (Japan Professional Basketball League): B.League is the governing body and league operator for all Japanese professional basketball clubs including Ibaraki Robots. Not a direct competitor but defines the competitive framework, centralizes media rights, league-wide sponsorships, and ticketing infrastructure on which Ibaraki Robots depends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ROBO_SKET
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2SWvDK0MAoX2RXOeYdOhdw
• Instagraminstagram.com/robostagram_01

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ibaraki Robots