2023 World Baseball Classic venues: Where are the first round games being played?
As national baseball teams from around the world gather for the fifth World Baseball Classic, we look at the event’s hosting venues
After a long, six-year wait, the World Baseball Classic is back and this year’s event sees some loaded rosters, particularly from the USA, the Dominican Republic, and Japan. Fans will be able to check out the pool games, which are being played in four locations across three countries, before the semi-finals and final game are moved to Miami.
Here is a quick look at all four venues.
Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium
Taichung, Taiwan
Capacity: 20,000
All Pool A games will be held in Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan, where the crowd should get a good look at some great baseball. Teams Netherlands, Cuba, Italy, and Panama will square off with local hosts Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).
Prior to the tournament starting, each of these national teams will also play two games against a Chinese Professional Baseball League opponent, and with the venue not confirmed for each of those games, with Taichung Intercontinental as the home stadium of CTBC Brothers, it is likely that most of the games will be played there.
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
Capacity: 45,600
All Pool B games will be played in the nation’s marquee stadium, home of the Yomiuri Giants, the Tokyo Dome is no stranger to international events, having hosted MLB games, NFL games, concerts, Mike Tyson boxing events, and more. Team Japan will slug it out with South Korea, Australia, China, and the Czech Republic and each of these teams will also face two Nippon Professional Baseball teams in their warm-up for the event. Those games will be held in Miyazaki and Osaka.
Chase Field
Phoenix, Arizona
Capacity: 48,686
The Arizona Diamondbacks will see their home ground host all of the Pool C games, as teams from the USA, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, and Great Britain will compete in what is sure to be one of the most popular venues in the competition.
Each of these teams will have two warm-up games against an MLB team during spring training, with games being held in Mesa, Goodyear, Phoenix, Glendale, Surprise, Tempe, Peoria, and Scottsdale in Arizona.
LoanDepot Park
Miami, Florida
Capacity: 36,742
Home of the Miami Marlins, LoanDepot Park will host all of the Pool D games, as Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua will give the south Florida crowd a thrill. Coming off the Caribbean Series final that saw the Dominican Republic and Venezuela go head to head, that game will certainly be reason for excitement in a pool stacked with talent.
The two pre-tournament warm-up games against MLB teams in spring training will be held across Florida, as Lee County, North Port, West Palm Beach, Port St Lucie, Port Charlotte, and Jupiter will also host.