▲ Fans cheer during the 2026 KBO League game between the kt wiz and the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in Gyeongsangnam-do on the 11th.
Professional baseball team NC Dinos has decided to remain in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, and continue operations without relocating its home base.
In an official statement released today (August 20), the NC Dinos announced, "The club has decided to place its trust once more in Changwon City's commitment to valuing baseball fans and making baseball the pride of Changwon, and we intend to continue running the club in Changwon."
In May of last year, the NC Dinos raised the possibility of relocating its home base, demanding Changwon City fulfill 21 items, including improving ballpark facilities and transportation accessibility, and compensating for losses resulting from stadium closures. The club has spent nearly the past year and a half negotiating these matters with the city.
The negotiations between both sides also encompassed facility management issues that surfaced following a structure-falling accident at Changwon NC Park on March 29 of last year.
At the time, exterior finishing materials collapsed and struck three spectators, resulting in the death of a woman in her 20s. Subsequently, the NC Dinos requested Changwon City to compensate for losses caused by the closure of their home stadium and to have the Changwon Facilities Corporation take charge of overall facility management.
During the consultation process, Changwon City expressed its intent to responsibly pursue improvements on issues consistently raised by the club and fans, already implementing certain measures such as expanding bus routes.
Starting January 1 of this year, the Changwon Facilities Corporation has been managing the overall facilities of both Changwon NC Park and Masan Baseball Stadium.
However, long-term tasks such as improving player training facilities, expanding parking lots, and increasing railway route operations still remain.
The NC club explained, "Because long-term tasks still remain, concerns regarding them persist. Changwon City has expressed a strong will to continuously push forward with these tasks in accordance with the originally agreed-upon direction."
The club added, "We ask once again that you continue detailed consultations with the club and faithfully fulfill the remaining tasks in line with the initially agreed direction."
Gratitude was also expressed to the fans who have waited throughout this period.
The NC club stated, "We offer our deepest apologies for causing our fans prolonged worry and uncertainty due to the home base issue. We sincerely thank our fans who never wavered, trusted the club, and waited with steady support through it all."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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