The Taipei Dome, known in Mandarin as “Taipei big egg,” is ready to hatch and host its first trial games for Taiwan’s baseball fans.
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After 32 years of effort to build the Taipei Dome, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) has finally obtained the usage permit. The mayor’s good mood echoes the public’s excitement for the long-awaited opening as he invites the media to share in this special occasion.
The stadium will hold two trial matches in mid-November, with 12,000 enthusiastic fans ready for games.
After a previous safety test in September, there were concerns about the white color of the seats, as it may impair the ability to track the trajectory of the ball. Since then they have been repainted, but there are still claims remaining that the big screen is not big enough.
The mayor says that if the ball can’t be seen clearly, they will consider using seat covers to address this issue. He also comments that the screen is actually bigger than it appears in the photos but also agrees that it could be even bigger and considers calling Farglory Group to take care of the job.
The stadium needs to provide sufficient both visual and auditory entertainment. Emphasis should also be on players’ safety and ensuring the escape signs will be crystal clear to understand. The stadium’s capacity can hold up to 40,000 people, and up until May, there were still 108 missing items during the inspection, though the government says all relevant improvements have been completed.
The November testing games will be held on the 9 and 18. Final adjustments to the venue will be based on the player's actual physical appearance during the game. After these final preparations are made, the Taipei Dome will be ready to play ball for the Asian Baseball Championship in December.