Will Busan be able to hold the title for the first time in the non-metropolitan area, a city with four major professional sports clubs called the "Sports Grand Slam".메이저놀이터
The men's professional volleyball OK Savings Bank will push to relocate its headquarters from Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province to Busan Metropolitan City. According to the results of the report on the 10th, the club reportedly delivered its intention to the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) verbally first regarding the relocation of the headquarters, and visited the KOVO secretariat in person on the same day to talk with related ministries again. As requested by KOVO, the necessary data will be submitted to the working committee attended by the secretariat of each club on the 12th. The working committee will decide whether to propose the agenda (to be held on the 24th), and the relocation of the headquarters will be finalized according to the unanimous decision of the heads of each club who attended the board meeting.
The volleyball community agrees that the possibility of relocating the base is very high. A high-ranking official said, "Although it may be a relocation from the non-metropolitan area to the metropolitan area, relocation to the provinces has a clear justification for increasing popularity of volleyball, expanding the base, and regional balance," and added, "From the perspective of other teams, there may be a burden of increased operating expenses or player management due to increased long-distance away trips, but it is difficult to go against the cause. There is a high possibility that it will be accepted on a grand scale."
The Busan Metropolitan Government welcomes the move, too. If the relocation is successful, Busan will host a professional volleyball team for the first time in the South Gyeongsang region. Busan, which already owns Lotte (baseball), Busan I'Park (soccer), and KCC-BNK Some (men's and women's basketball), could become the fourth city in Korea's history to host the four largest professional sports teams after Seoul, Incheon and Suwon. It is the first among non-capital regions. As Korea's second largest cities connecting Seoul, it is a coveted title.
Busan is also an attractive location for OK Savings Bank. Although there have been no affiliated clubs so far, it has 13 volleyball teams in elementary, middle, and high schools, and more than 200 amateur teams are active. It is a holy place for men's volleyball gold medals at the 2002 Asian Games, and it is also a city that has consistently produced big stars such as Kang Man-soo, Kim Ho-cheol, Shin Chi-yong, Moon Sung-min, Jang Ji-yeon, Yang Hyo-jin, and Park Jung-ah. It is a great environment for the volleyball team to settle down.
Good precedents from KCC and Busan, which moved their headquarters two years ago, also appeal to OK Savings Bank. KCC has settled in Busan, leaving Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province. Reaction was explosive. Not only increased attendance but also coexistence of the headquarters and professional teams resulted in positive effects. On top of that, KCC is moving toward a virtuous cycle model by winning the championship game in the 2023-2024 season after settling in Busan.
An official from the sports community said, "There are many benefits that can be enjoyed by moving to a large city in many ways, including the population. Synergy that comes from professional sports clubs gathering together will also work in an advantageous way."
In fact, the relocation of OK Savings Bank's headquarters is not an abrupt issue. "Four men's teams gathered at Gijang Gymnasium in 2019 to hold the Busan Summer Match," a high-ranking club official said. "Since then, we have checked the enthusiasm of fans in the Busan area, and there have been talks internally." However, no further progress has been made as the geographical location or facilities of Gijang Gymnasium have hampered the move.
The previous issue, which had been sluggish, was rekindled by the will of OK Financial Group Chairman Choi Yoon, the owner of the team. An official from OK Financial Group's headquarters said, "Should I say that the chairman is an opportunity for Korean volleyball to slow down? He thought he needed fresh stimulation. In particular, he thought that someone should take the lead in the lack of local clubs. Considering the relationship with the existing location and the cost of relocation, it is not an easy choice, but we made a decision, and the club naturally began to connect with Busan last year," he said.
Some speculated that there was a problem with Ansan City, which had been accompanied by him for 12 years, and that the story of the relocation of the hometown came out, but OK Savings Bank dismissed it. An official of the club said, "Ansan is a city that is grateful for reaching out first when our newly launched club is having a hard time selecting a hometown and really helping us settle down in the early days. We have shared two wins and shared the pain of Ferry Sewol for a long time. I told you this issue as carefully as possible and we are talking positively."
The expected effect from relocating to Busan is simple. This is to vitalize the popularity of volleyball. Based on a summary of the news, OK Savings Bank is considering an indoor gymnasium in Gangseo Sports Park in Busan as its home stadium if the relocation takes place. As the Sajik Gymnasium is already occupied by basketball teams KCC and BNK, there is not enough room to dig in. However, the capacity of Gangseo Gymnasium alone is around 4,280 people, far exceeding the existing Evergreen Gymnasium (2,700 people). You can expect a greater advertising effect as well as entrance revenue.
"Gangseo Gymnasium is very close to Gimhae International Airport and a subway station is just around the corner. It also has good access to nearby highways. The facilities have undergone remodeling recently and are in compliance with the conditions of the facilities. It is an excellent environment for fans to visit," a volleyball source said. "More than anything, the fact that professional sports clubs are gathered in one hometown will serve as a plus alpha." He also expressed a rosy outlook that "various joint marketing across sports will be possible and a sports boom will occur in the entire city."