Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
In March 2023, ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO which is being constructed by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters(hereinafter called Fighters), will finally open.
It’s time to say goodbye to the Sapporo Dome which Fighters has been using until 2022 season games(To be precise, it will be used until pre-season game on March 4th & 5th this year), Fighters can finally hold home games at our own stadium.
It is said that the Fighters decided to construct their own stadium because Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. which manages and operates the Sapporo Dome did not agree to negotiate to relax the terms of use. Perhaps at this point, Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. concluded that Fighters had no choice other than the Sapporo Dome.
Since the details of the negotiations has not been officially announced, it is conjecture, but it is said that sales of fighters goods sold at Sapporo Dome were included in the usage contract.
We thought that a similar case is the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Also at this case, there was news that the Yokohama DeNA BayStars were considering constructing a new own stadium. However, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars decided to acquire the majority of the outstanding shares of Yokohama Stadium Co., Ltd. through through TOB.
This is just our personal opinion, but we think that it was resolved in an ideal style for the team to own stadium.
The negotiation between Fighters and Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. have resulted in breakdown.
As a result, Fighters decided to construct their own stadium as new home ground. Moreover, Fighters chose the neighboring city of Kitahiroshima instead of Sapporo city as a candidate site.
According to some news reports, Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. imposed strict conditions on terms of use that instead of agreeing to negotiate to relax the terms of use. If this report is true, it seems that Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. has chosen a thorny path by themselves.
Just before the opening of the new stadium ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, a new issue happened.
The distance from the home plate to the backstop is about 10 feet shorter than the stipulation !
This is stipulated in Official Baseball Rules 2.00 The Playing Field. The rules of Playing Field stipulate distance between bases, the foul territory, and between home plate and the outfield fence. The rule violations this time is the distance from home plate to the backstop. Official Baseball Rules states it needs to be more than 60 feet, but it distance is about 50 feet in new stadium.
A distance of 320 feet or more along the foul lines, and 400 feet or more to center field is preferable
source: OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES 2021 Edition
https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/atcjzj9j7wrgvsm8wnjq.pdf
Unlike other sports, there are cases that affect the game even off the field in baseball. For example, foul out. it sometimes affect the score depending on the situation.
Regarding this case, the pros and cons are batted back and forth. Some people mentioned “`it should not be permitted because it is a violation of the rule” , and some people mentioned “is is acceptable to permit this level violation”.
Here are our personal opinion the below.
Current the rules of Playing Field has unequal stipulation for players. First of all, we think that the reforming the unequal stipulation should be considered. And we believe that this unequal stipulation is one of blocking item that is difficult to spread over the world. Of course, some people mention that that is what baseball is all about !, but since there are no stipulation regarding spectator stand, it should be possible to realize distinctive shapes, seats, etc.
Why are the stipulations for the playing field vague, such as requiring “A distance xx feet or more” ?
Especially for the fair territory, shouldn’t stipulations clarify the distance to the outfield fence, the shape and the height of the outfield fence ?
In fact, these stipulations affect title such as home run and ERA.
There are already professional baseball stadiums constructed according to the conditions of the local land. Of course, a lot of current baseball stadiums cannot be reconstructed even if the stipulations of playing field will be reformed. However, if future stadiums are reconstructed with the exact same size (even only the fair territory), we believe that it is possible to hold international tournaments without inequality.
Fighters has decided to start reconstruction work after the end of the 2023 season.
We have said a lot, but we are very exciting to the opening of the new stadium, ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO.
This stadium is a dome stadium, but it has a retractable roof, so if weather conditions are met, we can enjoy the atmosphere of an outdoor stadium.
Although there are still issues such as transportation and the environment including the surrounding facilities, I believe that it will develop around this wonderful ballpark.
Reference: HOKKAIDO BALLPARK F VILLAGE(2023/01/03)
(Please select “Language” from top right button)
https://www.hkdballpark.com
Reference: NPB(NIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ORGANIZATION) (2023/01/03)
https://npb.jp/eng/
Thanks.