LG Twins, Doosan Bears to temporarily play at Olympic main stadium for 5 seasons

The LG Twins and the Doosan Bears will temporarily relocate to the main Olympic stadium in Seoul's southern Jamsil district while their current baseball stadium undergoes reconstruction, Seoul officials said Tuesday. As part of Seoul's broader construction plan to transform the Jamsil area into a major sports and entertainment district, the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, currently home to LG and Doosan, will undergo reconstruction to become a 30,000-seat domed stadium to open in March 2032. During the five seasons from 2027-2031, the two baseball clubs will relocate to the Jamsil Olympic Stadium, a 60,000-seat venue, which will be temporarily renovated to an 18,000-capacity ballpark, Seoul city officials said. Additional seats will be made available to accommodate up to 30,000 spectators during major games or postseason events. With a renovation budget between 30 billion won (US$21.7 million) to 40 billion won, the running tracks and football field of the stadium will be replaced with a standard baseball field , with dugouts and other amenities to be added. The city had initially considered relocating the teams to Mokdong Baseball Stadium and Gocheok Sky Dome in other parts of Seoul, respectively, but ultimately chose the Jamsil main stadium based on the clubs' preferences. "I extend my thanks to those involved in joint efforts to tackle the issue, including the Seoul city government, on behalf of the baseball community," Heo Koo-youn, commissioner of the Korea Baseball Organization, said. "In cooperation with teams, Seoul City and other related organizations, the KBO will do its utmost to provide a safe and comfortable environment for fans." Source: Yonhap News Agency