On the 2nd, Nippon-Ham held a press conference at Escon and announced that they have decided to relocate their farm team's home field to Eniwa City, Hokkaido.

Last July, the team announced its intention to relocate its minor league home field from its current location in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, to the Sapporo area of Hokkaido by 2030.

Initially, it was stated that information was being exchanged with Kitahiroshima City, Eniwa City, Ebetsu City, Chitose City, and Tomakomai City, but Eniwa City, Ebetsu City, and Tomakomai City were the final three candidates.

Images of the new facility have also been released, showing an open-air main stadium, a sub-ground, an indoor training facility, and player dormitories. The project will proceed with plans for commercial, residential, and accommodation development in the surrounding area.

▼Eniwa City: Located south of Sapporo and Kitahiroshima cities, it stretches east to west and borders both cities. It has a population of approximately 70,000. Situated midway between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, its attractive feature is its easy access from Kitahiroshima, where ES CON FIELD is located.

Nippon-Ham Chief Baseball Officer Kuriyama said, "Not just in baseball, but if people from all over the world gather based on that base, and children go out into the world, and players truly grow, and if the most important people are nurtured, then the organization and the team will continue to win. What we adults can do is create an environment for the next generation, because I believe that people don't get nurtured, they grow on their own."

Ken Kobayashi, Executive Officer and Deputy General Manager of the Corporate Division at The Fighters Sports & Entertainment, said, "The proposed site is an area of approximately 46 hectares located between Megumino Station and Shimamatsu Station on the JR Chitose Line. The site is sufficiently large, and we believe it has great potential to be developed in stages around the farm facilities, including commercial and residential areas."

Ken Maezawa, president The Fighters Sports & Entertainment, said, "Rather than being a place where a lot of people come on a daily basis, I think it's a comfortable place to live, typical of Hokkaido, and it happens to have ball park and various sports facilities within it."

◆Other teams' farm team relocation

Yakult is scheduled to move from Toda, Saitama to Moriya, Ibaraki in 2027. Lotte will move from Lotte Urawa in Saitama City to Kimitsu, Chiba in 2030. Chunichi is also aiming to relocate to an area near Vantelin Dome due to the aging of Nagoya Stadium.