The annual CPBL All-Star weekend is well on the way, however the Players Union is unsatisfied with the Hualien stadium field conditions. And threatens to boycott all future Hualien games if this issue goes unsolved by the league.
Players and fans can be seen during live broadcast with temporary tattoos on their body saying “Under Construction – Stay Clear!” & “It’s very dangerous here!” To protest playing in such an unsafe field.
Significant of Hualien / East Coast region
Hualien county is located in the east coast of Taiwan. The beautiful rural east coast is often referred as the cradle of Taiwanese baseball. As the region have produced countless famous baseball players playing at CPBL, NPB and the MLB level.
To a lot of CPBL players, coming back to the East Coast of Taiwan is like some sort of homecoming for them. As it is the place where they first started their baseball journey.
While it’s a nice gesture from the league to bring All-Star event to the east coast for the 1st time in 28 years. However, the stadium itself is not up for the professional standard. And the players and players union have had enough of it.
Statement from Players Union
The following is taken from the official press release by TPBPA (CPBL Players Union) yesterday just before the 2017 All-Star Game.
Since 2016, the players union have been visiting / evaluating all the stadiums in Taiwan. With the idea of providing the safety recommendations to the local government and the league.
Doing so, the union have achieved very positive results. As the local city council from Chiayi, Hsinchu and Yilan have all taken the recommendations and start renovating the stadium to improve the safety of the players.
The union is baffled by the league’s decision of choosing Hualien stadium to host the 2017 All-Star Game, knowing beforehand the field conditions is way below the standard.
The union fully support the idea coming to East Coast Taiwan and giving back to the community. However does not approve the condition of the field and the state of the stadium facilities for safety reason.
Should the league continue to ignore the unions request on players safety, further harsher action by the union will be implemented. Including the possibility of boycotting all stadiums which the union see unfit for professional baseball in the future.
Taiwan baseball stadium rating
According the annual stadium rating released by the Sports Administration, Hualien stadium currently have a rating of C. Stadium with a C rating is only suitable for practice, amateur games and it is unfit for professional baseball.
The overall rating system is compiled by several subcategories. Such as stadium structures, field conditions, lighting and stadium facilities.
| Rank | Stadium | Opened | Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium | 2006 | A |
| 2 | Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium | 2009 | A |
| 3 | Chengcing Lake Baseball Stadium (Kaohsiung) | 1999 | A |
| 4 | Douliu Baseball Stadium | 2005 | A |
| 5 | Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium | 1997 | B |
| 6 | Tianmu Baseball Stadium | 1999 | B |
| 7 | Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium | 1931 | B |
| 8 | Hsinchu CKS Baseball Stadium | 1976 | B |
| 9 | Pingtung Baseball Field | 1979 | B |
| 10 | Chiayi Baseball Field | 1907 | B |
| 11 | Taichung Baseball Field (Old Taichung) | 1935 | C |
| 12 | Chiayi County Baseball Stadium | 1996 | C |
| 13 | Taitung Baseball Stadium | 2006 | C |
| 14 | Hualien Baseball Stadium | 2001 | C |
| 15 | Luodong Baseball Field | 1992 | C |
| 16 | Kaohsiung Li De Baseball Stadium | Unknown - Japan Era | D |