New Taipei Mayor visits Chicago's Wrigley Field for dome project inspiration

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih visited Chicago's historic Wrigley Field during his trip to the United States, seeking inspiration for the upcoming New Taipei City Dome project. The century-old ballpark, home to the Chicago Cubs, serves as a model for integrating sports, tourism, and commerce to stimulate local development.

Wrigley Field, which opened in 1914 and is the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, showcases how a venue can evolve with urban development and transportation infrastructure. It has become a central element of a vibrant street economy and urban lifestyle, demonstrating the potential for a stadium to drive surrounding business growth and community prosperity.

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The location for the New Taipei City Dome will be announced soon. We will develop it with diverse functions such as sports events, cultural performances, and entertainment.

New Taipei City officials highlighted three key features of Wrigley Field's success. Firstly, the stadium preserves its historical elements, such as the ivy-covered outfield walls and manual scoreboard, while continuously upgrading facilities. This blend of historical preservation and modernization maintains its cultural value. Secondly, the integration of surrounding dining, lodging, and commercial spaces creates consistent foot traffic and economic activity, fostering district development. Lastly, the venue hosts not only baseball games but also concerts, markets, and brand events, drawing visitors even on non-game days.

Mayor Hou stated that the location for the New Taipei City Dome will be announced soon. The project aims for diverse functions, including sports events, cultural performances, and entertainment. With a core philosophy of encouraging visitors to "arrive early, stay longer, and leave late," Hou intends to implement concepts of venue economy and integrated district planning. The goal is to create a new type of public space that combines urban characteristics, convenient living functions, and international appeal, ultimately boosting New Taipei City's competitiveness.

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With the core concept of 'arrive early, stay longer, and leave late,' we will introduce venue economy and integrated district thinking to create a new type of public space that combines urban characteristics, living functions, and international appeal, enhancing New Taipei's urban competitiveness.