Ulsan: The NC Dinos said Saturday they will stick to their plan to play upcoming sets of games at a temporary home despite a recent offer from their home city to reopen their original stadium later this month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Dinos had announced Thursday their decision to play the remainder of the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan. This location is approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul and 70 kilometers northeast of their home city of Changwon. The team’s first home game at this alternate venue is scheduled for May 16.
The decision to relocate was influenced by a tragic incident on March 29, when a female fan was fatally injured by a falling louver panel at Changwon NC Park. This incident prompted the Dinos and the municipal government of Changwon to initiate extensive safety inspections of the stadium, which was inaugurated in 2019. Despite these efforts, the club, the city, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport could not agree on a reopening timetable, leading the Dinos to arrange for Ulsan to serve as their temporary home.
In response to concerns from the local community about the economic impact of the Dinos’ departure, Changwon announced on Friday evening that preparations for the stadium’s reopening would be completed by May 18, allowing the Dinos to potentially resume games there before the end of May. Nevertheless, the Dinos reiterated their commitment to their agreement with Ulsan.
The club stated, “While we appreciate the announcement by the city of Changwon, we will go ahead with our plans to play at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium for the time being. The city’s schedule for the reopening is not a fixed one but merely a target date to complete the necessary steps. We will determine our future course of action after further inspections of the stadium. We are concerned that further delays by the city would only cause our fans more confusion and disappointment.”
The Dinos are scheduled to host the Kiwoom Heroes from May 16 to 18, followed by three more home games against the Hanwha Eagles from May 20 to 22. After a six-game road trip, the Dinos will host the Eagles again from May 30 to June 1. The club plans to collaborate with the KBO and Ulsan to decide the duration of their stay at the alternate venue.
Currently, the Dinos have a record of 1-4-0 in Changwon and 14-14-0 on the road, and they will enter the weekend on a season-high five-game winning streak. Due to multiple disruptions, the Dinos have played the fewest games in the KBO this year, totaling 33.