Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium... Temperature, Traffic, and Infrastructure 'Triple Harmony' Popularity

The ‘threefold advantage’ of warm temperatures in Uiryeong, Gyeongnam, its geographical benefit at the center of Gyeongnam, and a large baseball stadium open on three sides has made the ‘Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium’ a spotlight as a winter training site.

On the 3rd, Uiryeong-gun announced on the 5th that the opening ceremony of the 10th Uiryeong-gun Mayor’s National Middle School Baseball Tournament was held at the Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium, where 16 middle school baseball teams gathered from all over the country, including Seoul, Incheon, Sejong, and Ulsan, and they began an eight-day fierce competition.

The 10th Uiryeong County Mayor's National Middle School Baseball Tournament. Provided by Uiryeong County

원본보기 아이콘

Uiryeong-gun maintains an average temperature above freezing even in winter, reducing the risk of injury for players. The baseball stadium is located just 10 minutes from the highway interchange, and it is rare for a local government to have three natural grass baseball fields, making it an optimal environment for winter training camps.

On that day, large buses overflowed at the Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium. Not only team buses from all over the country but also parents chartered buses to visit Uiryeong to cheer for their children. Over 700 people gathered just for the opening ceremony.

The ‘Uiryeong-gun Mayor’s National Middle School Baseball Tournament’ is well known as the best choice for players as their last practical stage before major national tournaments in March.

Coaches, players, and umpires participating in this tournament shared the same opinion that the surrounding environment of the Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium is optimal for focusing on the game.

Kim Sang-wook, coach of Gyeongnam Middle School, who has chosen the Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium as a winter training site for 14 years, said, “First of all, the warm temperature reduces the risk of player injuries, and it is good for developing practical skills in the best condition. The sweat we shed in Uiryeong throughout the winter is the secret to achieving good results in national tournaments every spring. For us, Uiryeong is a land of opportunity and promise.”

Im Dong-jin, coach of Sejong BC, said, “It was closer than I thought when coming down the highway. We don’t have to endure the hardship of going deep into the countryside. The accessibility of downtown restaurants and accommodations, as well as the taste and friendliness, all pass with flying colors.” Kim Moon-han, coach of Haman BC, said, “There is no sea or river wind blowing on the baseball field. The embankment blocks the wind, so we can train without any problem even in the harsh winter weather. It has become a competitive tournament with many top teams competing in excellent stadium facilities.”

O Tae-wan, Uiryeong County Governor, Baseball First Pitch. Provided by Uiryeong County

원본보기 아이콘

Umpire Seo Dong-seok said, “The size of the three baseball fields, the stands, and the netting are comparable to Mokdong Stadium, reaching the level of an official baseball stadium. If a few improvements are made, it would be fully possible to host well-known national tournaments.”

All coaches, umpires, and officials raised the need for artificial turf as an improvement point. They unanimously agreed that at least artificial turf should be installed starting from the infield to elevate the level of the baseball stadium by several steps.

Yoo Chan, executive director of the Uiryeong Baseball Association, said, “It was a natural baseball stadium highly praised by KBO Commissioner Hur Koo-yeon, but now its momentum has somewhat declined due to the artificial turf issue. Once the artificial turf is resolved, we will work together with the county to attract national tournaments, and Uiryeong baseball people will take the lead in revitalizing the local economy.”

County Governor Oh Tae-wan said, “Recently, multifaceted discussions on installing artificial turf have been ongoing. We will make meticulous preparations to establish Uiryeong’s reputation as the optimal winter training site.”

Meanwhile, the Uiryeong Eco-friendly Baseball Stadium hosts 20 teams annually as a winter training site, and every weekend, 20 to 30 amateur clubs and over 500 people participate in baseball tournaments. They greatly contribute to revitalizing the local economy. Uiryeong-gun provides training support funds of up to 1.5 million won to training teams.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.