ES CON Field Opens
Opened in March 2023 in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, ES CON Field cost approximately 60 billion yen, NPB's largest stadium project. It became the first NPB home stadium to combine natural grass with a retractable roof, prioritizing player health over the traditional artificial turf dome model.
Ballpark Village Concept
The stadium anchors 'Hokkaido Ballpark F Village,' a mixed-use development with hotels, hot springs, restaurants, shopping, camping, and farms designed to attract visitors on non-game days. Modeled on MLB ballpark developments, annual visitors exceed 3 million, transforming Kitahiroshima's economy.
Business Innovation
The stadium features craft breweries, sushi counters, BBQ terraces, and diverse seating from sofas to private suites. Naming rights generate approximately 500 million yen annually. The stadium-as-revenue-generator model presents a new paradigm for NPB team economics.
Impact on NPB
ES CON Field's success influences projects like the Yomiuri's planned Tsukiji stadium. However, the 60-billion-yen price tag risks widening facility gaps between wealthy and budget teams. The stadium marks NPB's transition from 'places to watch games' to 'places to experience entertainment.'