Ballparks evolve to cater to new legions of baseball fans – women, families

On a blistering hot afternoon, 30-year-old hotel worker Kim Do-sik untied his tie and rolled up his sleeves until they were just past his elbows before laying his briefcase on his lap.

He tucked away the tie in the suitcase then took out an old black baseball cap that had letters “L” and “G” on the front.

“Come on LG!” Kim yelled.

Kim was sitting up in the stands at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, in Seoul, the home of LG Twins and also Doosan Bears.

“I’ve been following the LG Twins for more than 10 years.”

The avid baseball fan, who lives and works in Incheon, comes to see LG’s home games almost every week.

Spending more than an hour in the packed subway train to go to the Jamsil Stadium does not bother him, and he said he is more than happy to pay 8,000 won for a ticket.

“It’s a part of my life,” Kim beamed.

Baseball is arguably the most popular sport in South Korea. Since the professional league’s establishment in 1982, more than 100 million people have visited the ballparks at least once.

The number of spectators is going up every year and the Korea Baseball Organization expects that this will be another record-breaking year.

Yet the ballparks in here have long been regarded as an ideal place for only “ajeossi,” or middle-aged men.

The image of a drunken man yelling at the players was one of the things one came to expect at the ball parks.

For women the sport was only from a distance and through on their TV screens. However, these stereotypes no longer hold.

On a sunny Sunday at the Jamsil Stadium in early July, hundreds of women were wrapped around in the white and black colors of LG Twins. In fact, it appeared women made up more than half of the crowd.

“Oppa! Oppa!” and “Oh my God, He is gorgeous,” were among the things the women screamed.

The high-pitched voices were so dominant in the stadium that it reminded of pop concerts.

The number of female baseball fans has grown by leaps since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where the Korean national baseball team won gold, followed by their second-place finish at the World Baseball Classic in 2009, according to the KBO.

“I first came to Jamsil Stadium last year after watching the WBC final and since then I’ve become a regular here,” said Baek Ok-hyun, a 29-year-old Lotte Giants fan.

“I still don’t know much about baseball, but I like cheering on my team.”

“They all look great too,” she added. 

Families sitting on picnic mats at the Munhak Baseball Stadium’s grass bank cheer on their teams.                                                                                                              Courtesy of SK Wyverns

More than a ballgame

“Come on people! Stand up,” a male cheerleader shouted during the LG Twins’ game against Lotte Giants at the Jamsil Stadium while jumping onto the small stage at the first-base stands.

“LG! (clap-clap-clap-clap) LG! (clap-clap-clap-clap),” the man yelled to the sound of a dance beat. A large squad home fans dressed in black and white followed suit, slamming the stick balloons they held in each hand.

“I love cheering on my team. It’s great fun and I can release a whole week of stress here,” said one of the LG fans, 29-year-old designer Lee Mi-na.

A never-ending supply of cheer songs and music keep the crowds on their toes during the match.

Watching the big screen at the stadium is also great fun. A variety of videos and crowd shots energize the fans, though sometimes it makes people watch the screen more than the game.

Many teams now offer special events via the LED screens during the inning breaks. “Kiss time” is an old classic, but is still beloved by many.

When the song “Kiss Me” is played, the giant screen picks a random couple and they are supposed to kiss each other to win a prize. Making it more fun, sometimes two men sitting side by side are shown on the screen.

“It’s a nice place for a date,” said 26-year-old student Lee Heung-kyu. Lee and his 23-year-old girlfriend Yoon Ji-eun come to see the games almost every weekend.

“Unlike other places, people don’t stare at you whether you hug or kiss your girlfriend,” Lee said, beaming.

The baseball stadium is also popular spot to propose marriage. Though some women actually hate the idea, few would dare to say no in front of thousands of spectators.

Most of the teams arrange almost everything for you -- a bunch of flowers, romantic music and the big screen are all free of charge, but one should apply for it well in advance due to the high demand, said a LG Twins spokesman. 

Kia Tigers cheerleaders work the crowd.                                         Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald

What to eat

Needless to say, for many a ballgame is just an excuse to eat. The menu at Jamsil Stadium shows an impressive array of food choices, ranging from traditional ballpark snacks, including burgers, chips and pizzas to more Korean style “bunsik,” such as kimbap and “tteokbokki,” or rice cake in hot sauce. Smoked pork feet along with soju are also popular among the ballpark lovers.

You want Chinese? The nearby Chinese restaurants deliver to the Jamsil Stadium.

“I order jjamppong (seafood noodle soup) from time to time, especially when it’s cold and rainy,” said Lee Mi-na. According to Lee the delivery usually takes less than 15 minutes and of course carries no extra charges. 

Fans enjoy a barbecue at the Incheon Munhak Baseball Stadium.                                                                                                                           Courtesy of SK Wyverns

Something healthy? If you don’t like all “bad for you” foods and also need a more cozy space to enjoy your meal, check out the LG Twins’ premium seats.

The seats are located directly in front the home plate, boasting the best viewing of the game. Private tables are available for 50,000 won per person and with extra 50,000 won you can enjoy restaurant-quality sushi rolls.

Something special? Go to the Munhak Stadium in Incheon. The stadium has a slight advantage over others in terms of food selections, with barbeque being the running theme.

There are large garden tables set up in a special area called the “Barbeque Zone” at the outfield stands. Electric grills and pans are provided at no charge. And you can also buy a pack of pork belly, sauces and vegetables at the stadium.

The prices are quite reasonable. It costs 10,000 won per person. However, only 112 seats are available, so one needs to book at least two weeks in advance, according to a SK Wyverns spokesman.

Where to sit

Tired of sitting on a normal plastic chair? Then, go to the Munhak Stadium in Incheon. Built in 2001, the stadium offers a broad range of seating choices and creates a Major League-style atmosphere.

Most notably, there is a small grass bank at the corner of outfield stands, where fans can enjoy the game in a more relaxed manner. You can borrow mats and sunbeds free of charge.

If one needs more laid-back atmosphere, go to the far side of the outfield stands. There are two-seater wooden benches, making one actually feel like being in a park.

What women want

Until recently, for women, visiting a ballpark was a trip into a world they knew little about. But things have now changed. Many female fans have a genuine passion for the game. So, the teams are now offering various events and services targeting them.

“Queen’s Day,” is one good example. Each month, the Doosan Bears dedicate one day of its schedule to their non-masculine fans. They offer discount tickets and hand out free cosmetics on the day. Also, the players don pink jerseys instead of their usual black and white uniforms.

The Busan-based Lotte Giant also offer a similar deal. They hand out gifts and restaurant vouchers exclusively for women on a special day called “Lady’s Day.” 

Kia Tigers fans at the Jamsil Stadium on July 8.                                                                                                                  Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald

It’s early yet, but some of the teams have a sense of what women really want. For example, the Incheon Munhak Stadium, the home of SK Wyverns, features a powder room with dressing tables with a grand-size mirror. Also equipped with a bookshelf filled with books and references about baseball, the powder room also a couple of tables and chairs so that female fans can relax and refresh themselves.

LG Twins PR manager Jeong Taek-gi said the number of female spectators has been going up steadily and even during the World Cup the trend did not slow down.

“This shows how popular the baseball is in Korea,” he added.

“For me, it is more than just a game. First, the forest green palette ground makes me feel good and it’s more than just great to be shouting, cheering and jumping,” said Lee Mi-na.

“Also, it’s a real good opportunity to meet new people with same interest.”

List of ballparks

The Korean professional baseball league is now going into the second leg after playing All-Star game on July 24 at the Daegu Stadium, the home of Samsung Lions.

Currently, there are eight teams in the league: Doosan Bears, LG Twins, Hanwha Eagles, Kia Tigers, Lotte Giants, Samsung Lions, SK Wyverns and Nexen Heroes.

The Lotte Giant’s Sajik Stadium in Busan is the largest stadium in the country with a capacity of nearly 30,000. The Giant have also the second home, the Masan Stadium in Masan, located some 35 kilometers west of Busan.

The SK Wyvern’s Munhak Stadium in Incheon is the second-largest stadium. It has a capacity of around 28,000 people.

Three teams -- Doosan, LG and Nexen -- are based in Seoul. Doosan and LG share the Jamsil Stadium, which can hold up to 27,000 spectators, and Nexen uses the stadium in Mokdong in southwest Seoul.

The Daejon Stadium is the home of the Hanwha Eagles and the Gwangju Stadium is owned by Kia Tigers.

Locations and details of all the stadiums can be checked on the KBO website www.koreabaseball.com. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketlink.co.kr. For more information call 1588-7890. 

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)