On the 31st, Changwon City held a citizen briefing session for the "NC Dinos Support Plan (Draft)" at the Gyeongnam MBC Hall, where it presented its support plan for the 21 requests submitted by the NC Dinos to the city and listened to citizens' opinions.
The briefing session on Changwon City's support plan for NC Dinos was held at the Gyeongnam MBC Hall. Photo by Lee Seryeong
According to the plan, starting next year, Changwon Facilities Corporation will be responsible for the overall maintenance and management of facilities at NC Park and Masan Baseball Stadium, while the NC Dinos will be in charge only of the management and operation of the grounds and revenue-generating facilities.
The city plans to add 2,000 seats to the outfield stands at NC Park by 2028.
The team store for selling NC Dinos merchandise (goods) will be expanded to two floors by 2027, and the installation of additional electronic display boards in NC Park will also be completed in the same year.
After completing the first phase of renovations at Masan Baseball Stadium, which serves as the official stadium for the second team?including replacing spectator seats?the city plans to proceed smoothly with the remaining second phase of construction.
In addition, instead of using Goseong Baseball Stadium as the exclusive practice stadium for the second team, two practice fields will be provided at the Jinhae Multipurpose Sports Complex, which is being built in the Jaeun-dong area of Jinhae-gu. Until then, the city will support temporary use by creating an infield on the parking lot of Masan Baseball Stadium.
Furthermore, when the current Masan Hoewon District Office relocates to the self-sustaining administrative complex town being built in Hoeseong-dong, the city will pursue the construction of an exclusive indoor practice facility and player accommodation for the second team on the existing district office site.
Starting in the second half of this year, the city will promote bus routes passing by the baseball stadium by attaching information signs and will conduct a detailed transportation study to consider route adjustments.
For the shuttle bus, which has been operating on a trial basis since the second half of this year between Yongwon-dong in Jinhae-gu (which lacks a direct bus route) and NC Park, the city will assess demand and consider establishing a new route.
The steel-frame parking structure at Masan Baseball Center will be expanded by three floors, securing an additional 600 parking spaces.
To accommodate the surge in parking demand on home game days, the city will also utilize 602 spaces at the Bongam Industrial Complex public parking lot and 232 spaces at the Masan Jau Trade Area Management Office parking lot.
With the partial opening of the Bujeon-Masan double-track railway project scheduled for next year and the Pyeongtaek-Osong double-track project expected to be completed in 2028, the city anticipates an expansion of railway lines. Accordingly, it plans to actively request that the last KTX train departing from Masan Station be extended to at least 10:10 PM.
Additionally, for annual advertising contracts and annual bundle ticket purchases, the city will collaborate with Gyeongnam Province, the Office of Education, and local business organizations to secure approximately 1.3 billion won in advertising contracts and about 1 billion won in bundle ticket purchases annually until 2030, while facility and transportation accessibility improvements are underway. After that, these initiatives will continue within the limits of the available budget.
Other plans include expanding advertising effects through sponsorship contracts for uniforms and helmets, providing internships for students at sports-related companies, developing tourism products linked to sports, supporting vouchers that combine accommodation and tourist attraction tickets, and holding events such as screen park golf tournaments and sports film festivals at NC Park during the off-season.
Kim Jongpil, Director of Planning and Coordination Office, is answering citizens' questions at the Changwon NC Dinos Support Plan (Draft) Citizens Briefing Session. Photo by Lee Seryoung
The city estimates that a total project cost of 134.6 billion won will be required over 20 years until 2044 to implement the 21 items requested by the club.
Of this, 106.4 billion won will be allocated to facility improvements, which will be promoted by securing national and provincial funding.
Jang Geumyong, acting mayor, who attended the briefing session, said, "In these difficult times, with population outflow and economic challenges, professional baseball is a precious asset that provides comfort and joy to citizens. As we have given this matter thorough consideration, we will fully gather citizens' opinions through this briefing session and actively engage in discussions with the club."
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