Seoul: Nearly two months after threatening to relocate due to a dispute with their home city, the NC Dinos have announced their intention to "seriously consider" an offer from another city. Seongnam, situated just south of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, has emerged as a potential new home for the Dinos, who are currently based in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Dinos' corporate owner, the gaming giant NCSOFT, has its headquarters in Seongnam. A Dinos official noted that with baseball's popularity at a high point, Seongnam's interest in hosting a professional team is expected. The long-standing relationship between NCSOFT and Seongnam could influence the Dinos' decision if Seongnam provides an attractive offer.
The conflict between the Dinos and Changwon escalated following a tragic incident on March 29, when an aluminum panel fell at Changwon NC Park, resulting in the death of a fan during a Korea Baseball Organization game. This prompted safety inspections and maintenance work that forced the Dinos to play away from home for over a month.
Changwon faced criticism for not taking responsibility, despite owning the stadium, and for delaying the Dinos' return post-inspections. Consequently, the Dinos played six home games in Ulsan before returning to Changwon at the end of May. Dinos CEO Lee Jin-man expressed dissatisfaction with Changwon's response, threatening relocation if demands were unmet and accusing the city of unreasonable treatment.
In response, Changwon established a task force to address the Dinos' concerns and initiated free shuttle services for fans to enhance accessibility to Changwon NC Park. Meanwhile, the Dinos have been considering offers from other cities, claiming some have proposed more favorable conditions than Changwon.
Seongnam, which has never hosted a baseball team, signed an agreement with the KBO to convert Seongnam Stadium into a baseball venue by 2027. In a related development, Changwon announced a public meeting scheduled for next Thursday at 3 p.m. to update local fans and media on its plans regarding the Dinos' demands. The meeting will include a Q and A session and is open to the public, aiming to incorporate residents' feedback into decision-making.