‘PayPay Dome & Boss Ijo’ Challenge to become a global ‘attraction’ beyond Japan… ‘Landmarkization’ that Korea needs to pay attention to

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• on May 28, 2023

 Recently, in the KBO League,스포츠토토 the enthusiasm for the construction of ‘new stadiums’ such as Cheongna Dome and Jamsil Dome is hot. Among them, in the case of Cheongna Dome, which is promoted by Vice Chairman Jung Yong-jin of Shinsegae, it is trying not only to enjoy baseball, but also to add various cultural businesses such as shopping and play culture.

In the KBO League, Gocheok Sky Dome, Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Samsung Lions Park, and Changwon NC Park are the most recently built stadiums. Compared to Sajik Stadium in Busan, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, and Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park in Daejeon, the facilities are much better. However, although it is a relatively recently completed stadium, there are not many things to enjoy other than baseball. Because of this, there are not many fans who visit the baseball field unless they are baseball fans. In particular, on days when baseball is not held, the area around the stadium is empty.

To improve these problems, Vice Chairman Jeong Yong-jin, who is promoting the construction of Cheongna Dome, is thinking of a way to connect Cheongna Starfield and Cheongna Dome. The idea of ​​capturing the hearts of fans who are not just watching baseball. The same goes for the Jamsil Dome project. The city of Seoul, which is promoting the construction of a dome stadium in Jamsil, is also making efforts to integrate a convention center and a hotel.

Recently, in the case of the major leagues, newly built stadiums often incorporate various content elements, including shopping malls. The most representative ballpark is Globe Life Field, used by the Texas Rangers. There is a stadium not far away that clubs and cities that are promoting the construction of a new stadium can refer to. Japan’s ‘Fukuoka PayPay Dome’ and ‘Boss Izo’.

Fukuoka PayPay Dome is a stadium owned by Japan’s ‘only’ professional baseball team. As the stadium is owned by the club rather than leased, Softbank has made great efforts to secure commercial rights around the PayPay Dome. As a result, in July 2020, a complex entertainment building called ‘Boss Ijo’ was completed. In other words, they created content that fans can visit and enjoy near the PayPay Dome even on days when there is no baseball. The PayPay Dome and Boss Ijo are so attached that it takes less than a minute.

The contents of ‘Boss Ijo’ are very diverse. On the first floor, there is a performance hall where you can see performances by the Japanese idol group ‘HKT48’, ‘teamLab Forest Fukuoka’, an immersive museum using a three-dimensional space, and VR (virtual reality) games. In addition to the venue, there are Japan’s only 100m slides and climbing.

Baseball-related content cannot be left out. The museum of Oh Sadaharu (Wang Jeong-chi), president of Softbank, who hit 868 home runs during his active career, is located here. The Sadaharu Oh Museum is full of exhibits related to his Softbank Hawks. There is also a baseball experience center created through high-level technology. In addition to simply enjoying baseball, there is also a system that allows you to compare your skills with those of professional players.

The connection system between PayPay Dome and Boss Ijo is well worth a reference for KBO League clubs and cities that are promoting the construction of a new stadium and want to attract landmarks other than baseball stadiums. In response, Softbank invited Lee Dae-ho to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the club’s founding and the 30th anniversary of the PayPay Dome in order to promote not only baseball but also boss Lee Jo to Korean tourists.

Lee Dae-ho, who visited Fukuoka on the 26th, watched the match between Softbank and Chiba Lotte Marines on the 27th. In response to the news of Lee Dae-ho’s visit, who won the Japan Series MVP while staying at Softbank in 2015, Softbank’s former and current station head coaching staff ran to welcome the ‘Joseon’s fourth hitter’. Lee Dae-ho, who had stepped on countless grounds but did not have much experience watching baseball in the audience, couldn’t hide his joy at the experience he hadn’t had during his active career, saying, “It’s my first time in the audience seat. I’m so nervous.”

Prior to the match between Softbank and Chiba Lotte held at the PayPay Dome on the 28th, Lee Dae-ho enjoyed the contents of ‘Boss Lee Jo’ and proceeded with the ‘ceremonial first pitch’. Ieyasu Shimizu, director of Softbank Business Headquarters, said, “I hope that many Korean tourists visit Izo, not just baseball at the Fukuoka PayPay Dome, 365 days a year. We sell tickets limited to Koreans and prepare various benefits.” I want to make PayPay Dome and Boss Ijo a favorite spot for Korean tourists by making more efforts so that people can feel, ‘It’s nice to be here, it’s nice to be here.'”

Various attempts are being made to create something that can enjoy baseball and various contents in one place, not only in the major leagues where baseball is hot, but also in Japan. I hope that these things, not just plans, can be realized in the KBO League.