Kia Champions Field

By Calen Cygan 

Most major cities have at least one sports team around which the citizens can come together to support and celebrate, and for Gwangju, that team is the beloved Kia Tigers baseball team. One of ten professional teams in the country, the Kia Tigers play in Kia Champions Field, opened at the start of the 2014 season. The stadium is located close to the river, complete with grassy picnic areas and sand pits almost always full of playing children.

The stadium can seat up to 27,000 fans. Tickets for a regular season home game range from 7,000 to 14,000 won in the grandstands, with box and specialty seats costing between 20,000 and 100,000 won.

When you enter the gorgeous new stadium, your senses will be assaulted with many delightful sights, sounds, and smells. Fans in their red-and-black apparel in support of the home team yell loudly and smack their inflated yellow cheer sticks together to add to the roar of the stadium initiated by dancing cheerleaders. For most of these fans, the game will not be complete without the traditional baseball snacks of chicken and beer or dried squid. Unlike western sports arenas, fans can bring in their own snacks and drinks, allowing for endless consumption possibilities. One inning into the game, it will be easy to see how baseball is such an adored part of Gwangju culture.