After the fatal accident involving a falling structure at the stadium, the NC Dinos, who had been playing away games, returned to Changwon NC Park after about 60 days and mentioned the possibility of "relocating their home base."
The returning club made this announcement during a reopening press conference held on the 30th, ahead of their 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League regular season home game against the Hanwha Eagles.
NC Dinos CEO Lee Jinman stated, "We intend to seriously consider all possibilities regarding the club's future."
CEO Lee said, "This incident has made us reflect on our club, our surrounding environment, and the past," adding, "To become a stronger club, I felt that not only do we need to strengthen our capabilities, but there also needs to be changes in the environment around us."
He continued, "A baseball team needs an environment where it can focus solely on baseball. When we can play baseball in such an environment, we can achieve better results, which will attract more fans to the stadium, and ultimately, this will allow both the local community and the club to develop together."
He also emphasized, "Based on mutual trust, we want to seek partnerships to create such an environment together," and added, "With the mindset of a second founding, we will review new possibilities and reset our direction so that we can become a club that more fans can relate to and love."
NC Dinos CEO Lee Jinman is speaking about the reopening of the baseball stadium and the review of relocating the home base at Changwon NC Park. Photo by Yonhap News
In the subsequent Q&A session, CEO Lee explained, "Rather than definitively saying we will relocate, I believe it is now time to seriously consider it. We will thoroughly review all possibilities," and added, "There has not yet been significant progress in this review; we are only beginning to consider it now."
"Despite various challenges and difficulties, we have made great efforts to take root and establish ourselves in the local community," he said. "Under the name D-Nation, we have spent hundreds of millions of won on community donations and youth support, but our efforts have not been fully recognized locally. In fact, we have even faced some rather unfair treatment."
"Especially after the accident in March, the club faced a situation where its very survival was threatened," he said. "Maintaining the status quo is not the answer. We have come to believe that it is time to seriously seek an improved direction."
An aluminum structure "louver" installed on the outer wall near the concession stand on the third base side of Changwon NC Park has fallen off. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee
The NC Dinos' period of playing away games began on March 29, during a game against the LG Twins, as a result of the aftermath of the accident involving a falling structure from the stadium's exterior wall.
At around 5:20 p.m. that day, an aluminum structure called a "louver," installed on the outer wall near the concession stand on the third base side of NC Park, fell onto three women who were standing in line in front of the stand. One of them suffered a severe head injury and, despite receiving treatment at the hospital, passed away the following day.
Immediately after the accident, NC Park was temporarily closed and all the "louvers" were removed. However, as the safety inspection of the stadium was prolonged, the NC club had to play home games at other venues, including borrowing Sajik Stadium in Busan, effectively becoming a wandering team.
Eventually, they designated Ulsan Munsu Stadium as a temporary home and played six games there.
As a result of this situation, the NC club reported that not only did the players' performance suffer from playing at other stadiums, but the financial loss alone exceeded 4 billion won. The club estimated that if they had played all remaining season games in Ulsan, the damage would have easily surpassed 10 billion won.
On the 29th, the NC club requested specific administrative support and safety management measures from the Changwon city government to continue playing baseball at Changwon NC Park.
CEO Lee stated, "We are waiting for a concrete and immediately actionable response," and added, "We will not make an emotional or unreasonable decision to relocate, but will make a rational and reasonable decision for the club and our fans."
He said, "We have not set a specific deadline for a response," and added, "However, we are not just waiting for Changwon city's answer; we will also consider other regions in parallel."
"There will be local elections next year, and regardless of who becomes the head of the local government, I hope that the supplementary measures proposed by Changwon city this time will not be overturned or changed at that time," he said. "I hope Changwon city provides the most concrete and feasible answers as soon as possible, so that the supplementary measures proposed by Changwon city can be implemented before next year's local elections," he added.
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