Gwangju on the morning of the 7th.
A bus arrived in front of the Kiwoom Heroes’ team’s lodging. It is not a team bus with the club logo wrapped around it, but a general tour bus. People of various age groups but wearing Kiwoom home and away uniforms started to come down one after another. Under the leader’s words, “Now, I’m going to meet the players,” they looked excited and moved in an orderly manner.
They are the “Hero Expedition” that Kiwoom recently planned with a travel agency. It is a package tour that includes tickets to away games in the non-metropolitan area, accommodation and meals for two days, and round-trip transportation. 63 fans participated in the away game against Lotte in Busan on August 16-17, and 60 people participated in the away game against KIA in Gwangju, where the second program was held. More than 400 fans applied for the recruitment of 60 people, making people feel the heat. Some fans who accompanied them on the Busan expedition last month also participated in the Gwangju expedition again. They opened their wallets generously despite the considerable cost.
The first day of the two-day Heroine Expedition, which will take place from July 7 to 8, was the first day of the tour. Immediately after arriving in Gwangju on the morning trail, the first day of the tour was to visit the team’s lodging facility.
Kiwoom lost 0-14 at the match against KIA in Gwangju on Sunday. The team had a match against KIA on Sunday as well. However, the team did not hesitate to split the golden break time for the fans who have come all the way. Six players including Song Sung-moon and Lee Ju-hyung met with fans who came to their lodging for signing events and having selfie time. The event was held through recreation and prize-drawing events with supporters. 메이저사이트
The team’s lodging is a place of relaxation and recharging that can directly affect victory or defeat. It is like a sanctuary that is never open to fans or anyone else. It is unprecedented for an ordinary fan to visit this place, especially when pennant races are underway. Not only coaches but also players may feel a sense of incompatibility beyond unfamiliarity.
The players, however, seemed rather happy as they welcomed the fans. “Thanks to your support in the away game, I feel energized even before the game. I feel that I have to do better,” Song said. “I don’t think visiting fans is a problem for my performance because it is a season. Rather, I feel that the players should work harder both in the game and in the fan service.”
Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki expressed a similar thought. “I heard that fans’ responses were very good. I heard that the performance of the team is not that bad. If it’s a fan service like that, we should definitely do it,” he said. “I think it’s positive in that the fans and players can actively interact with each other.” “We are talking about the era of 10 million spectators in the KBO League, and both clubs and players should provide fan service suitable for it. Even if there are some inconveniences, I think we should do it.” A Kiwoom official said, “We plan to hold fan tours regularly in the next season and expand to overseas spring camps.”
The KBO League is moving toward an era of 10 million spectators. There are more than just rosy prospects in the process of baseball becoming a culture beyond the industry. There are also concerns that the influx of spectators, which has spread like wildfire, could pass by as a once-in-a-time trend. There are many voices calling for the government to find a way for fans to be impressed by the baseball stadium so that the 10 million spectators can be the basis of professional baseball, not the once-in-a-time trend. Amid this situation, Kiwoom’s bold fan service is worth considering.