Consideration of Dome Stadium Construction at Current Baseball Stadium Location... Negotiations with Preferred Bidder Underway
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to consider building the new Jamsil Baseball Stadium, planned as part of the Jamsil Sports and MICE complex project, as a dome stadium following a proposal from the KBO.
According to Seoul City on the 15th, the KBO officially requested Seoul City to construct a complex dome stadium at the current baseball stadium location, taking into account public transportation accessibility, and to install various convenience facilities for players and spectators to ensure a comfortable and pleasant game and viewing environment. The KBO believes that with the construction of a complex dome stadium, games can be held under various weather conditions such as rain and fine dust, and international baseball games like the WBC and Premier12 can be hosted.
Currently, Seoul City is reviewing the overall facility and operation plans for the open-type baseball stadium with a capacity of 33,000 seats along the Han River, proposed by the preferred negotiation partner for the Jamsil Sports and MICE complex project (main contractor Hanwha Construction), through a negotiation team composed of experts in urban planning, architecture, and baseball. However, concerns have been raised mainly by baseball experts that the new stadium site along the Han River is very limited in space, and the facilities for players and spectators are densely packed within the narrow site, which could result in poor game and viewing conditions.
In response, Seoul City plans to negotiate with the preferred negotiation partner (main contractor Hanwha Construction) on building a complex dome stadium at the current baseball stadium location, based on a comprehensive review considering the KBO’s proposal and related expert opinions. Constructing a dome stadium at the current site will require adjustments to the overall complex layout plan linked to the utilization of the complex dome stadium, and priority will be given to optimizing architectural design, landscape, circulation plans, and inter-facility operational connections. The project will be pursued without additional financial input by comprehensively analyzing the increase in operational revenue from the dome stadium’s multifunctional use and additional construction costs.
Seoul City plans to finalize the dome stadium construction plan within the first half of this year, conduct a thorough review of traffic and environmental impacts, and sign an implementation agreement with the preferred negotiation partner in the first half of 2023. Once the implementation agreement is signed, construction permits and other approvals will be obtained, and construction could begin as early as the second half of 2023.
Yeo Jang-kwon, Head of Seoul City’s Balanced Development Headquarters, said, “The new baseball stadium should be a sports landmark where players and spectators can enjoy the best baseball games and a new landmark of Seoul,” adding, “We will promptly finalize the dome stadium construction plan by further collecting opinions from the baseball community and citizens.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
