Today we visit Hokkaido, Japan and their incredible Es Con Field Hokkaido!
History:
Es Con Field Hokkaido is a baseball stadium located in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan. It serves as the home field for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) since its opening on March 14, 2023. The stadium, designed by Obayashi Corporation and HKS Architects, features a retractable roof, making it Japan's second such facility. It has a seating capacity of 35,000 and an asymmetrical playing surface with natural Kentucky bluegrass, a rarity in NPB. The planning for Es Con Field began in early 2016 when the Fighters sought a new home to replace the Sapporo Dome, which was costly to rent and did not provide revenue from concessions or advertising. The team explored multiple sites before selecting Kitahiroshima's Sports Park due to its larger space and supportive infrastructure commitments from the city. Kitahiroshima offered land lease free of charge and tax exemptions, facilitating the project's development.
Construction of the stadium began on May 1, 2020, with significant collaboration with Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers, who were concurrently building Globe Life Field. The stadium's design reflects Hokkaido's local architecture, with a large, brown, triangular roof inspired by barns and banya (lodging facilities for fishermen). The retractable roof, supported by a 70-meter-high glass wall, allows natural light to support the grass field and withstands heavy snowfall and temperature extremes. Es Con Field's amenities include three tiers of seating, two large LED screens along the baselines, and a unique "Tower 11" building featuring seating, a bar, an onsen hot spring sauna, and a hotel with rooms overlooking the field. This design aims to blend sports with other forms of entertainment, catering to a broad audience beyond just baseball fans. Additional features include a brewpub, children's playground, and reduced foul territory to enhance fan experience.
The surrounding area, named Hokkaido Ballpark F Village, is being developed into an entertainment district with commercial facilities, restaurants, and residential units. Inspired by MLB stadium complexes, this district aims to create a vibrant community space. A miniature version of the ballpark is planned to inspire future generations of players, alongside a senior home, medical mall, and childcare support center. Access to Es Con Field is facilitated by the Kita-Hiroshima Station on the Chitose Line, with expansions and shuttle services enhancing connectivity. Plans for a new closer station are under consideration, and the stadium offers parking for 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles, a rarity in Japan. The first official game at Es Con Field was held on March 30, 2023, between the Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, marked by ceremonial first pitches from former Fighters managers. The stadium represents a significant economic boost to Hokkaido, with long-term impacts expected to total around ¥678.8 billion over ten years.
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Music
Song: Maevan
Artist: Valente
Courtesy Of: www.epidemicsound.com
Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es_Con_Field_Hokkaido