Take Me Out to the Tigers’ Game

By Adam Nash

Growing up in England, my Saturday afternoons were all about football. The pre-match pies and post-match pints; the chants, the jeers, and the celebrations with thousands of fellow supporters – it was the highlight of my week.

If I wanted to play a sport involving a bat and ball, it was cricket or nothing. I don’t know anyone in England even remotely interested in baseball. That’s probably why it took me a whole year before I went to see the Kia Tigers play.

It was my last weekend living in Gwangju (I recently succumbed to the bright lights of Seoul), and I wanted to do something special. So, when my good friend invited me to see a baseball game, I thought it was a great idea. I knew that the Kia Tigers are a popular team that the people of Gwangju are very proud of, so I thought it’d be a fitting way to spend my last Saturday in the city.

This wasn’t actually my first baseball game. My friend had taken me to see the White Sox play when I visited him in Chicago, and I thought it was a lot like cricket: too much standing and waiting, not enough action. The atmosphere was so flat that the guy in front of me started reading a newspaper! So, even though I was up for giving it another go, I was fully prepared for another dull, boring match.

How wrong I was. Korean baseball was nothing like my experience in America. It was exciting, high-energy, and actually fun.

The buzz began as we approached the stadium. Hundreds of fans converged on the ground, wearing the famous red and white of the Kia Tigers. Feeling left out, I decided to splurge on a jersey from the club shop. There is the option to get a player’s name stitched on the back, but seeing as I had no idea who any of the players were, I kept mine a stylish blank.

When we finally took our seats, we realized we had made a big mistake. We had bought tickets to sit to the right of the batter, slap-bang in the middle of the away supporters. Now, if this were an English football game I’d be fearing for our safety and frantically hiding my new shirt, but everyone there just seemed happy and up for a great time: win, lose, or draw (if a draw is even possible in baseball, I’m still not 100 percent sure of the rules).

The actual game was very similar to the one I watched in America, but the big difference was the crowd. They seemed pumped for every pitch. Everyone banged their inflatable clappers, chanted the players’ names, and cheered every hit. There were drums, music, and even cheerleaders, whose choreographed moves were mimicked by the crowd. During the breaks, the big screen played interactive games where fans could win prizes. It was hard not to get wrapped up in all the excitement, even though I wasn’t totally following the game.

Another difference was the food. Forget hot dogs and hamburgers; in Korea, when you go to a baseball game, it’s customary to enjoy chimaek (치맥, fried chicken and beer). There are lots of stalls inside the stadium, but they can be a bit pricey, so my friend suggested buying some before the game at a little stall on one side of the car park. Apparently, they don’t mind if you bring your own food and drink into the ground. I hope the English Football Association is taking notes!

Even the rain couldn’t dampen our spirits. We could see the threatening storm clouds roll in across the city, and, when a light shower turned into a heavy downpour, the crowd made a run for cover. Thankfully, the rain didn’t last long, but it’d sadly taken its toll on my takeaway chicken box. While running for shelter, the soggy, rain-soaked cardboard disintegrated, and my chicken plummeted to the floor.

The game itself went down to the wire. The Kia Tigers just needed one run from their last over to take it to extra innings. The crowd raised their voices and frantically cheered. Sadly, the illusive run never came, but still no one seemed too downhearted. It was genuinely a great way to spend my last weekend in Gwangju, and I’ll definitely be wearing my Tigers jersey with pride in Seoul.

It still might not be football, but it’s a hell of a lot better than cricket.

Kia Tigers Home Game Schedule for October

October 1 (vs. SSG Landers), 5 p.m.
October 5, 6 (vs. LG Twins), 6:30 p.m.
October 7 (vs. KT Wiz), 6:30 p.m.
October 8 (vs. KT Wiz), 5 p.m.

Venue
Kia Champions Field, Seorip-ro 10, Buk-gu, Gwangju
광주 북구 서림로 10 광주기아챔피언스필드
Phone: 070-7686-8000
Website: www.tigers.co.kr/ticket/information.asp

The Author

Adam is a proud Yorkshireman, born and bred in Sheffield, England. He loves traveling, football, and playing music. He’s been a drummer for over 20 years, but recently picked up the guitar, as a drum kit won’t fit in his apartment. Instagram:@adam_nash62