The professional baseball NC Dinos have decided to leave their base in Changwon. Marking the reopening of Changwon NC Park after 62 days, they expressed a firm stance, bringing the issue of relocation to the fore.
Lee Jin-man, representative of the NC team, directly mentioned the possibility of a transfer in an official briefing before the game against Hanwha on the 30th.
Due to the Changwon City government's avoidance of responsibility following the tragic incident on March 29, where a baseball fan died at Changwon NC Park, it will take two months to return to Changwon. Ultimately, the NC team has pulled out the transfer card at the organizational level, showing a posture of pressure.
Before the briefing, representative Lee expressed condolences to the victims and injured parties, bowing his head. In a statement, he noted, "We aim to focus on the future direction of the team. From a long-term perspective, we intend to seriously consider all possibilities regarding the team's future. This incident has prompted us to reflect on our team, the surrounding environment, and our past efforts. I felt that there is a need for change in the environment surrounding us, along with strengthening our team's capabilities to build a stronger team," while directly mentioning the possibility of a transfer.
Lee continued, "The baseball team needs an environment where it can focus solely on baseball. When such an environment is created, we can achieve better results, and more fans will visit the ballpark, allowing the community and the team to grow together. In the future, we hope to seek partnerships that will create this environment based on trust. With the mindset of a second founding, we want to review new possibilities and reset our direction so that more fans can resonate and feel affection for the team."
The following is a Q&A session between the representative and the reporters.
-Can we see this as an expression of intention regarding relocation?
"Rather than definitively stating that we will relocate, I want to convey that it is now time to seriously consider this matter, unlike before. So, this means we will review all possibilities. There hasn’t been significant progress worthy of mention yet; I’m saying it as an indication that we will start looking into this now."
-What prompted the review of relocation?
"Every situation has triggers. Despite various challenges and difficulties the team has faced, we have continuously strived to root ourselves in the community. Even while spending millions of won on community donation activities and youth support, it seems our team's efforts in this area have not been adequately recognized. At times, we have even faced unreasonable treatment. Especially through this recent incident, our team's survival felt threatened. Thus, we thought, 'Maintaining the status quo is not the answer; it is time to seek an improved direction.'"
-What is the estimated financial loss during the closure period of Changwon NC Park?
"To answer in two parts, the team, being an enterprise, always aggregates revenue and loss figures. Since the incident occurred, we have been calculating the losses until we return to the home stadium. If we only account for direct monetary losses, it amounts to about 4 billion won. If we had spent the entire season in Ulsan, it would have easily exceeded 10 billion won. The loss incurred by not playing at home and wandering away for matches, as well as additional losses incurred during these away games, is about 4 billion won."
Indirectly, such a difficult environment has unfavorably affected the players' performance during the extended away games. From the team's perspective, we believe this is an indirect loss as well. We are also aggregating this part. While I cannot provide an exact figure just yet, it can be said to be around 4 billion won plus some additional amount."
-What specific aspects have you asked from Changwon City?
"We have explicitly requested what kind of support would be necessary so that we can continue playing baseball in Changwon, including this breakdown of losses. In our discussions about the relocation issue, we specifically conveyed the areas where the city could provide assistance, and we are waiting for their response."
-Is the attitude of Changwon City important for a potential transfer?
"Following this recent incident, there have been many reports, and on the surface, the relationship between Changwon City and the team may appear somewhat strained. However, decisions regarding relocation cannot be made emotionally or irrationally. We will make a rational and reasonable decision thoroughly focused on the team and its fans. If the Changwon City government can provide concrete immediate solutions and actionable options for the situation we have requested, we are willing to engage in serious negotiations."
-Have you established responsibilities in case of similar incidents in the future?
"Changwon City, the Changwon Facilities Corporation, and our team have formed a joint task force. Within this framework, we discussed the incident response measures and prevention strategies. Initially, the post-event measures were largely completed, leading to the reopening. We are also preparing preventive measures and will ensure they are not delayed."
-What is the timeframe for expecting a response from Changwon City?
We have not set a deadline at this point. Changwon City also needs to fully review our requests. We have asked them to clearly inform us about the specifics of each request item, including the start and completion timelines, as well as the required budgets and how to secure those budgets. Such details are crucial for possible execution. Once we receive their responses on these matters, we will engage in diligent further discussions.
We cannot solely wait for Changwon City’s response; we will also be reviewing options in other regions. I’d like to add one important variable: next year, there will be local government elections. Depending on who becomes the head of the local government, the solutions proposed to us by Changwon City may change or be reversed at that time. We hope to receive specific and actionable responses as quickly as possible, ensuring that the implementation happens before the local government elections.
-Have you discussed the transfer with the KBO?
"What I appreciate is that during our discussions with Ulsan City, President Heo Koo-yeon and the KBO were very actively helpful. Since this incident, the KBO has been in tune with our concerns. They have mentioned there are ongoing considerations for relocation. They have also assured us that they will continue to collaborate with us regarding potential relocation. Ultimately, while the decision rests with the team, KBO approval is required, so discussions will continue."
-What specific requests have been made to Changwon City?
"In general, we have requested improvements related to facilities, enhancements for fan accessibility, and administrative support. This includes a request to adhere to previous commitments made by the city. The current contents have been broken down into detailed items, and we have requested them to be explicitly presented. We do not believe these are unreasonable requests."
-A message is needed to persuade Changwon fans if relocation occurs.
"Throughout these deliberations, we have experienced numerous uncomfortable processes. The only reason we have not yet relocated is because of our fans. Therefore, if we do go through with a transfer, the well-being of our fans will be our utmost consideration until the end. We cannot overlook the bond with Changwon fans, the emotional connections, and the team's sustainability within that context. We will continue to ponder this aspect."
-When were the demands conveyed to Changwon City, and what about the issues of stadium usage contracts during the transfer?
"We have given this considerable thought and conveyed our appropriate requests yesterday. I believe that Changwon City will reflect on our requests sufficiently before responding."
There are issues regarding the stadium usage contract that need to be resolved. While we have a general understanding of the legal constraints and contractual relationships, we also need to analyze the specific details. Recently, a media outlet mentioned stadium usage fees, and the reporter indicated that we had already prepaid all usage fees. They suggested this wouldn’t be a hindrance, but I would like to explain this further. That was not our intention. Legal issues and expenses are significant concerns. If we do relocate, we must consider the terms of the contract regarding the recovery of the prepaid amounts. However, we are worried about these costs due to the prepayment. Even if issues arise regarding refunds, we believe it should not affect future decision-making.
We need to consider the valuation of the enterprise. In general, a corporation's value is assessed based on operating profit and cash flow. Non-profitable startups or early-stage companies are evaluated on growth potential. Our country's sports teams tend to have low profitability and weak growth. We assess them on three indices: the value represented by team performance as sports content, the value of the venue, and the value of the local market. The value of the venue doesn’t simply depend on whether it is good or bad, but rather on how many fans it can attract and how much revenue it can generate. Among the three valuation indicators for team value, two cannot be resolved solely by the team. If the local environment improves, it can be said that the team's value can also improve. Whether we relocate or improve the current local conditions, if the improvement in value outweighs the already incurred costs, it can be regarded as a sunk cost that need not be factored into future decision-making.
-Is it possible to relocate starting next year?
"It seems unlikely that such a decision could be made immediately next year. While we need to hold discussions with KBO, coordination with other regions and Changwon City is also necessary. The city will need time to consider complying with our requests, so hastily setting a deadline would be premature. I will refrain from mentioning specifics at this stage."
-What is the background behind the team's position?
"We believe our team operates in the most challenging environment among the 10 teams in the KBO. Although we played our temporary home games in Ulsan, we would have prioritized using the 2nd team stadium in Masan if that had been possible. However, the 2nd team stadium was not a viable alternative due to facility issues. It isn’t just about facility problems; when considering all the improvements we requested from Changwon City, there are various inconveniences for fans in attending games. I understand that reporters also face difficulties when games finish late.
While I can’t disclose everything, I want to mention that we received promises from Changwon City; however, up until now, we’ve operated in a less than favorable environment in this small market. We are making significant efforts to plant roots in this region. Yet with such significant incidents, this is not mere rhetoric. The team truly experienced the threat to its survival. We believe a change is necessary for the sustainability of the team. If conditions improve in Changwon, the team can focus on baseball, and fans can enjoy coming to the ballpark more freely, creating a positive cycle. I want to stress that we deeply feel the need for change without definitively naming a specific area or stating we will relocate."
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