Feasibility Analysis of Large-Scale Public Cultural Infrastructure: An Empirical Study of the Sendai New Music Hall Project Based on Market Realities and Public Accessibility Benchmarks

This study presents a feasibility analysis of large-scale public cultural infrastructure through an empirical investigation of the Sendai New Music Hall project. The proposed facility, with a planned capacity of 2,000 seats and an estimated construction cost of 64.6 billion JPY, raises concerns regarding alignment with public accessibility and market demand. The research framework is grounded in normative benchmarks proposed by Shigano (2013), which suggest that a culturally effective music hall should target a construction cost of approximately 3 billion JPY for 1,500 seats, ensuring a “universal accessibility price” of 500 JPY per ticket. The study examines the structural consistency of the Sendai project against actual patterns in the local music event market. Primary data were collected manually from 48 music event flyers obtained at Hitachi Systems Hall Sendai between January and April 2026. These data were digitized and analyzed using AI-assisted methodologies (Google Gemini) to minimize transcription errors and allow multi-indicator statistical analysis. Indicators included temporal distribution, ticket pricing, venue utilization, genre segmentation, and accessibility benchmarks. Results indicate strong temporal clustering of events on weekends, a bimodal distribution of ticket prices separating community-oriented and professional/commercial events, and a limited proportion of events meeting the 500 JPY affordability benchmark. Gap analysis reveals a structural mismatch between the planned 2,000-seat hall and the most frequently utilized venue sizes (400–800 seats) for citizen-led cultural activities, suggesting potential overcapacity and high usage fees that could compromise public accessibility. The study concludes that mid-sized facilities (300–800 seats) are most effective in maximizing public interest and cultural accessibility, particularly for Vocal and Choral performances under the 500 JPY benchmark. Philosophical and policy-oriented queries are raised regarding the optimal allocation of public resources, the balance between aesthetic experience and venue scale, and administrative legitimacy in the context of large-scale infrastructure investment. This dataset and analysis serve as a neutral, reproducible reference for future evaluation of public cultural infrastructure projects, providing empirical evidence to inform policy decisions and public discourse on accessibility and cultural sustainability.