Architects chosen for new Incheon ballpark

“DLA+ Architecture and Interior Design” were named stadium design architect for the Cheongna SSG Baseball Stadium. The project will be the first privately funded professional sporting venue in South Korea.

Pittsburgh-based DLA+ Architecture and Interior Design (DLA+) has been selected by South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group (SSG) as the Design Architect for the Cheongna SSG Baseball Stadium, a new home for the SSG Landers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The project is expected to be complete for the 2028 season.

Located just west of Seoul in Incheon, South Korea, Cheongna SSG Baseball Stadium and Commercial Complex will be the world’s first baseball stadium with an integrated shopping mall. It is also the first privately funded professional sporting venue in South Korea.

The covered/dome Stadium will seat 21,000 guests and connect to the Starfield shopping mall, a national retail brand recognized for its outstanding guest experiences. Operating year-round as a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue, it will host various activities, including sports, concerts, and community and private events.

“We envision that Cheongna SSG Baseball Stadium will create a new paradigm for Korean sports and entertainment venues,” said Sunghoon Jung, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President, Sports Practice Leader and Principal, DLA+.

“Historically, South Korean sporting venues have been government-owned and not profitable. As the first privately funded sports project in South Korea, this baseball stadium is being built from the ground up with fan experience and revenue generation in mind. We believe that its success will have a positive impact on the future of the Korean sports and entertainment industry.”

The Stadium also creates an unparalleled experience for players. Drawing from its sports practice expertise, DLA+ has designed the home team facilities to maximize players’ physical and mental performance. Its clubhouse encompasses a locker room, player’s lounge, training room, and weight and conditioning room within a very comfortable yet highly functional and efficient space.

“By closely developing the vision with the Owner from its inception, we have transformed SSG’s goals into a design informed by a deep understanding of the local sports and entertainment market, and local fans and culture. Using our Strategic ArchitectureSM process, we gained insights through intensive research about the local context, economy, sociology, and fan psychology. The design was inspired by local fans’ genuine stories and expectations and the Owner’s business strategies for delivering memorable consumer engagement at its properties,” said Jung.

Jung has been building on the firm’s regional leadership and national recognition in the design of sports and entertainment facilities. He is an internationally renowned architect specializing in sports and entertainment venues. He is also a lecturer, author, and thought leader in design and planning for the sports and esports industry.

DLA+’s Sports Practice team has been involved in sports projects over the past 30 years. CEO Dennis Astorino and President and COO Christopher Haupt, who have planned and designed sports facilities since 1992, continue to stay involved in the sports practice. They work with Jung and sports project teams to guide the firm’s vision and deliver Strategic ArchitectureSM solutions for clients. (STADIAWORLD, 28.11.2023)