The SoftBank Hawks, for whom Lee Dae-ho (41) played, went out of their way to attract Korean fans.
SoftBank is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year and the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Fukuoka PayPay Dome by hosting Lee and his family. Lee watched the game against Chiba Lotte from the stands at the Fukuoka PayPay Dome on the 27th, and on the 28th, he will greet Chairman Sadaharu Oh and throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
SoftBank, where Lee played, opened a large event facility called Bosuizo Fukuoka in July 2020 right next to its home stadium, the Fukuoka PayPay Dome. It was originally scheduled to open in May, but was delayed due to COVID-19.
Bosuizo was born out of a concern for days without baseball. “SoftBank is a great crowd mobilizer,” says a SoftBank representative. We have more than 40,000 spectators at games with large crowds, and 30,000 on days when the crowds are small. However, on non-baseball days, it can get so quiet that you can barely see a jogger or two. That’s why we thought we needed a place where anyone could come and enjoy themselves at any time.”
Bosuizo offers a wide range of experiences, including facilities that appeal to baseball fans, such as the MLB Café, O Sadaharu Museum, and 89 Park, as well as facilities that non-baseball fans can enjoy, such as Team Lab Forest Fukuoka, a rail coaster, and a VR game arcade.
The MLB Cafe sells a variety of merchandise related to Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and serves American-style meals. The Sadaharu Oh Museum is a museum with various items and videos related to SoftBank Chairman Sadaharu Oh, who hit 868 home runs in his career. It also serves as a museum of SoftBank’s club history. The baseball experience facility, named 89 Park after the similar pronunciation of the Japanese words “89” and “yakyu,” allows visitors to experience what it’s like to be a professional player at various facilities, from basic physical fitness to pitching, hitting, fielding, and running the bases.
TeamLab Forest Fukuoka uses optical sensors and lighting to react to the audience’s movements and provide a fantastic view. In the VR game arcade, you can try your hand at a variety of VR games, and on the rooftop, you can enjoy a giant 100-meter slide, skyrail, climbing wall, and more.
Not forgetting Lee Dae-ho, who led the team to the championship eight years ago, SoftBank hopes that Korean fans will come to Bosuizo and have a good time with baseball 메이저놀이터.
A SoftBank representative said, “We hope that many Korean guests will visit Bosuizo Fukuoka 365 days a year, not just for SoftBank’s games. We are also selling Korean-only fun tickets and offering various special benefits. We will strive to make the PayPay Dome and Bosuizo Fukuoka a favorite spot for Korean visitors so that they can say, ‘I’m glad I came here, I love it here!