Stadium Events was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States in 1987. It was one of two games released in North America that were designed and branded for the Family Fun Fitness (FFF) mat. The other game in the Family Trainer series, Athletic World, was released earlier in the same year. Athletic World’s label is marked with a green “Series 1″; Stadium Events has an orange “Series 2″ badge. This numbering system was abandoned when Nintendo took over further Bandai releases for use with its Power Pad instead. Although there were 10 total games in the Family Trainer series, only these two games were released in North America under the Family Fun Fitness banner. The original box for the FFF mat features screenshots of Stadium Events under the banner “Coming Soon.”
The North American, or NTSC, version of Stadium Events is universally accepted as the rarest licensed NES game ever available for purchase in North America. It was recently named #6 on a list of 20 “Holy Grails of Console Gaming”, a list that covered all gaming systems in all countries. The reason for its rarity and subsequent high market price is due to its limited production and sales. At the time of its launch during the holiday season of 1987, Stadium Events was only available at Northern-region Woolworth’s Department Store, which was a test market for Bandai. In 1988, Nintendo purchased the North American rights to the FFF mat technology and re-released it as the Power Pad. The two Family Fun Fitness-branded games that had already been released, as well as Bandai’s version of the running pad accessory, were pulled from shelves and presumed destroyed. Because of this odd sequence of events, only 2000 copies are believed to have been produced, of which it is estimated that 200 copies reached consumers before being recalled. Today, collectors who follow the online sale of rare video games believe that less than 10 complete copies of the game exist, only one of which is factory sealed. A complete copy sold on eBay in November 2008 for over $7,500.
Now you can get your own. But be forwarned, the current bid has already reached $8,000. Check out the auction here!
