Seoul prepares for 2024 MLB World Tour Series with upgraded facilities
The image shows Gocheok Sky Dome. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Gocheok Sky Dome, a baseball stadium in western Seoul, has refined its facilities and safety measures are being explored ahead of next week's MLB World Tour here, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday.
The opening series of Major League Baseball (MLB) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will be held in Seoul from March 20 to 21. These two contests will be the first MLB regular-season games to be played in Korea.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the stadium on Tuesday to review crowd management strategies and the upgraded facilities, emphasizing the importance of providing a safe and optimal environment for players and spectators.
As over 100,000 domestic and international baseball fans are expected to flock to the stadium, the city government, the MLB and other related agencies, including the Guro District Office, police and fire department, are forming a comprehensive cooperation system to manage on-site activities and address contingency plans in the event of an emergency.
Since January, multiple meetings and inspections have been conducted by officials from the involved organizations to finalize safety measures, according to the city government.
To ensure visitor safety, MLB plans to deploy 400 safety personnel inside and outside the stadium, exceeding three times the average number of personnel for professional baseball games.
Thorough identification and security checks for all attendees will also be carried out for safety.
Additionally, over 150 personnel from the city government, the district office and police will be deployed to support on-site safety management. An on-site command center will be established in Gocheok Sky Dome to respond to any crises swiftly.
In response to rising concerns about counterfeit merchandise sales infringing on MLB's intellectual property rights, the city's autonomous police commission and the Intellectual Property Office will initiate special crackdowns and awareness campaigns near subway stations and the stadium.
The stadium's facilities have been comprehensively upgraded to ensure the best possible conditions for players.
In collaboration with MLB's groundkeeper, the stadium's 11,493-square-meter artificial turf has been replaced to meet global standards in G-max and flatness. The color has also changed to a sophisticated two-tone color.
Lighting has been improved after all existing metal halide floodlights were replaced with eco-friendly LED lights. This increases brightness by over 500 lux and also saves 350 kilowatts of energy per hour.
Enhancements of the stadium's facility also extend to upgrades in premium seats for spectators, new photo zones around the stadium and the creation of green parks.
"The interaction between MLB and the Korean baseball community is now in full swing. By successfully hosting this game, we hope to make another event of the MLB series in Seoul in the future," Oh said.