ainori Teams Up with Fukui B.Liga's Fukui BLOWINDS to Enhance Fan Experience

Enhancing Fan Access: ainori and Fukui BLOWINDS Collaboration

In an innovative move, ainori, a taxi ride-sharing service operated by Curio Inc., has joined forces with Fukui BLOWINDS, a professional basketball team in Japan's B.League. This collaboration aims to alleviate access issues for fans traveling to the Seiren Dream Arena, the team's home venue. Since its launch four months ago, ainori has successfully attracted over 10,000 users, reflecting its growing popularity in the ride-sharing segment.

Background: Access Challenges on Game Days

Located within the multi-sport Fukui Sports Park, the Seiren Dream Arena faces significant accessibility challenges on game days. Fans have previously encountered:

- Crowded Parking: Insufficient parking spaces near the arena lead to congestion and frustration for attendees.
- Limited Public Transport: The scarcity of bus services restricts fans' mobility, making journey planning difficult.
- Inconvenient Travel from Outside the Prefecture: Visitors traveling from other regions experience added travel burdens.

Fukui BLOWINDS have made efforts to create additional parking solutions, yet these measures only partially resolve the access issues. Thus, integrating ainori’s ride-sharing service becomes a pivotal step towards improving the overall experience for fans.

What is ainori?

Ainori is a web-based service that allows individuals heading to the same event to share a taxi, splitting the fare with fellow passengers. The service eliminates the need for app installation, making it accessible for anyone with internet access. This flexibility allows fans to avoid traffic congestion and misalignments with shuttle bus schedules.

Fans can easily find a ride through the following features:
1. Immediate Ride Sharing: By entering their destination from nearby stations or key city locations, users can connect with others heading to the same game.
2. Scheduled Ride Requests: Users can create ride requests for specified events, allowing them to gather interested parties before the game day.

Both features are free to use and offer hassle-free transportation options on game days, with many successful instances of utilization already logged in B.League events.

Example Fares for Shared Rides

- Fukui Station to Seiren Dream Arena: Approximately 2,000 yen round trip (1,000 yen each for four passengers).
- Elpa to Seiren Dream Arena: Approximately 4,000 yen round trip (1,000 yen each for four passengers).

These affordable transport options improve the experience for groups, including friends, students, and first-time visitors, ensuring a comfortable journey to the arena.

Benefits of ainori

By connecting attendees through shared rides, ainori significantly enhances transportation efficiency, solving parking shortages while reducing waiting times for taxis and traffic congestion around the venue. This innovative methodology not only fosters smoother access to the arena but also mitigates logistical challenges for away-game fans, promoting accessibility and convenience.

Comments from Fukui BLOWINDS

The Fukui BLOWINDS are committed to addressing access issues that fans have experienced, including insufficient parking and public transport options. They have previously initiated measures like promoting public transport use and implementing temporary parking facilities. This latest collaboration with ainori is designed to provide fans with an additional option, enhancing their overall attendance experience.

“By utilizing the ride-sharing service, we hope more fans can enjoy attending our games without access concerns,” stated a representative from Fukui BLOWINDS. The team is focused on creating a better game-day experience while growing together with the local community.

About Fukui BLOWINDS

As Fukui Prefecture’s first professional basketball team, Fukui BLOWINDS aims to create a vibrant atmosphere in the region. Their mission, encapsulated in the name ‘BLOWINDS’ (a blend of ‘blow’ and ‘winds’), is to foster pride through professional entertainment, creating an extraordinary impact together with the community.

The MIDNIGHT Series is set to commence on December 13, 2025, creating further excitement for fans. More details are available on their official website.

About ainori

Launched in May 2025, ainori has gained notoriety for its shared taxi service, particularly during the Osakan Expo. This approach allows visitors to share taxis for events, significantly improving travel experiences and easing accessibility issues for fans. Learn more about ainori on their service page.

For Event Organizers

Ainori is currently seeking partnerships with event organizers who face accessibility challenges for attendees. If interested, feel free to reach out through email.