Challenges Faced by Sports Teams Due to the Construction of a World-Class Sports Complex in Jamsil.

The professional basketball teams, SK Knights and Samsung Thunders, based at the Jamsil Sports Complex, are required to vacate the premises from 2026 for several years. The Seoul city government has announced plans to create a world-class 'Sports and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Complex' on the Jamsil Sports Complex site. This complex will not only feature a state-of-the-art baseball stadium but also a new basketball arena. It will serve as a sports complex capable of hosting various events, including basketball and volleyball games with seating for up to ten thousand spectators, as well as exhibitions and performances. Considering the aging facilities of the Jamsil Student Gymnasium and indoor sports arena, the construction of new venues is a welcome development, not only for the teams but also for the sports community.

 

The Seoul city government stated, "Due to the nature of private projects, the completion of the sports complex may potentially be accelerated in subsequent negotiations and detailed design and construction phases.

 

However, there is a significant issue in this process. Similar to LG and Doosan, who have to vacate their baseball stadiums, SK Knights and Samsung Thunders have also received notices from the Seoul city government to leave Jamsil. The construction of the sports complex is set to begin in 2026 and is expected to take three years to complete. Therefore, the two teams are expected to leave Jamsil as early as the 2024-25 season or, at the latest, the 2025-26 season.

 

Before the construction of the sports complex, there is a possibility of utilizing the new student gymnasium, which will be completed in 2026. However, this option seems unlikely. The new student gymnasium, located next to the main stadium, is designed for less than 2,000 seats and includes a swimming pool. In the past, SK has filled the existing student gymnasium with 5,400 seats during championship series games.

 

In light of this situation, SK and Samsung are currently exploring their options. A team official stated, "Both SK and Samsung teams find themselves in a situation where they need to find alternative venues. Finding a location near Seoul would be ideal, but at present, it remains uncertain. We plan to move accordingly once the construction start date is confirmed."

 

Both teams are considering alternative venues within the metropolitan area, including municipal sports facilities in other cities and university gymnasiums. Utilizing indoor sports facilities in cities like Seongnam or Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province is also a possibility. However, this may require additional discussions regarding scheduling and logistics for other sports. While using university gymnasiums within Seoul is an option, there may be limitations on commercial use, making it a challenging solution at the moment.

 

The Seoul city government stated, "Due to the nature of private projects, the completion of the sports complex may potentially be accelerated in subsequent negotiations and detailed design and construction phases. We are in continuous communication with professional basketball teams based in Jamsil." Ultimately, SK and Samsung will need to work closely with the city government to find interim accommodations while seeking solutions during this transitional period.