《TAIPEI TIMES》Free baseball game planned for test run at the Taipei Dome

Staff writer, with CNA

Free entrance to a baseball game is being planned as a test for the Taipei Dome, which is scheduled to begin trial operations next month after more than a decade of construction, a Taipei City Government official said on Monday.

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Taipei Department of Sports Commissioner Wang Hung-shiang （王泓翔） made the remarks at a city council meeting after being asked about progress on opening the venue, which has been under construction since 2012.

The Taipei Dome is expected to conduct a closed-door test event early next month, with a warm-up baseball game to be held in the middle of the month, the tickets to which would be free, Wang said.

Wang’s remarks come after Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan （李四川） last week said that the stadium had passed fire safety tests and was expected to receive its operating license late this month.

During Monday’s meeting, questions were also raised about the operating license and whether concerts would be held at the facility, as reports have said that the project’s main contractor, Farglory Group, did not apply for permission for such events.

Taipei Dome Preparatory Office deputy director Chen Shih-hao （陳世浩） said that the stadium’s use would be defined in the operating license, which has yet to be reviewed by the Taipei Construction Management Office.

The Taipei Dome is a multipurpose stadium, Chen said, adding that if concerts were held there, they would be governed by Ministry of the Interior regulations.

The venue is primarily a sports stadium, mostly for baseball, and events outside of that purpose would require separate applications, Wang said.

For the time being, it is hoped that Farglory Group would prioritize the venue for baseball, he said.

Preparations are being made for the Taipei Dome to host Asian Baseball Championship games in December.

Construction on the 40,000-seat stadium began in 2012, but dragged on for years due to repeated delays and disputes between Farglory Group and the city government.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES