“Anyone is bound to be overwhelmed.”
SSG Landers coach Kim Won-hyeong, whom we met ahead of the Lotte Giants game on the 21st, looked back at the atmosphere at Sajik Stadium the day before.
On this day,메이저사이트 Lotte made a ‘decided’. In this game, named ‘Busan Series’, 22,990 spectators were given red uniforms inspired by the color of camellia flowers, the city flower of Busan. The spectacle seen at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup was staged at Sajik Stadium. Director Kim said, “Wasn’t it a one-sided environment where all the spectators were wearing red uniforms? Anyone can be overwhelmed.” On the 21st, all tickets for SSG-Lotte were sold out within 30 minutes of the start of the game.
Lotte put a lot of effort into this SSG match. In addition to the uniform promotion, various events were prepared outside the stadium to attract spectators. Looking back on the fact that the SSG-Lotte match was far from the KBO league’s ‘box-office guarantee check’, it is true that Lotte’s move looks special.
SSG owner Jeong Yong-jin (left) and Kim Gwang-hyun embrace right after winning the championship. Sports Chosun DB
After the establishment of SSG, there were many eyes looking forward to the ‘baseball distribution battle’ with Lotte. SSG owner Jeong Yong-jin did not hesitate to make provocative remarks such as “I thought that I must join the baseball team while watching Lotte, who was unable to connect with my main job” and “They (Lotte) will have to chase after us crying and eating mustard.” He also put a lot of effort into shaping. However, after Lotte, owner Shin Dong-bin visited Jamsil Stadium once, and there was no follow-up response. SSG gathered all its strength in bold investments and raised its momentum by winning last year’s ‘Wire to Wire’, but Lotte failed to properly respond to SSG’s moves, such as toggling in the lower ranks. The flow of the past two years only echoed the cries of SSG.
But this year, the atmosphere began to change drastically.
On the 8th, a KBO league match between Lotte and LG was held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan. Shin Dong-bin, owner of Lotte, watches the game. Busan = Reporter Jeongheon Songsongs@sportschosun.com/2022.10.8
Smoke began to rise slowly as Lotte made a foothold in the lead competition with 9 consecutive wins at the beginning of the season. The movement of owner Shin Dong-bin has also changed more actively. Last year, he visited Sajik Stadium for the purpose of attracting the 2030 Busan Expo, and recently started cheering by delivering messages along with encouragement items tailored to the individual wishes of the players and support staff. Interest in and support for front-line members has also increased significantly, such as achievement awards and Family Day events. It is noteworthy that it is not much different from the omnidirectional support that owner Jeong Yong-jin showed after taking over SSG. The move of the Lotte front desk, which was evaluated as being steeped in so-called defeatism amidst a long period of stagnation, is also evident. An official from the Lotte club said, “Recently, I can see that the club culture, such as the team and the front desk, is changing positively.”
In the meantime, Lotte has focused on differentiation from SSG. Unlike SSG, which focuses on distribution, it has emphasized that it is a leading conglomerate that encompasses the chemical and financial sectors. In the midst of this, the group started to wake up the sleeping atmosphere of Busan by leaping to the top amidst a winning streak for the first time in several years, and the rivalry with SSG became clearer as the owner Shin Dong-bin, who held the key, actively responded. In the fierce battle for the lead, even the atmosphere around them heated up, and the ‘baseball distribution war’ was properly laid.