TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei City's Department of Sports (體育局) pledged on Wednesday (Sept. 25) to resolve the Taipei Dome (大巨蛋) leakage issue by late October and establish an operational performance evaluation committee. This commitment follows a recent event where rainwater disrupted a retirement match for Taiwanese baseball player Chou Szu-chi (周思齊).
The department warned that if Taipei Dome's operational performance scores below 70 for two consecutive years, it will terminate the contract with the Farglory Group (遠雄). The department has tasked Farglory to prioritize fixing severe leaks and areas designated for the National Day celebration by Oct. 4.
The department noted that the dome, a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) facility, is Farglory's responsibility to maintain. The persistent leakage has undermined fans' viewing experience and public trust in infrastructure. The department has consistently monitored Farglory's progress, especially during heavy rains, they stated.
The department enlisted the Taipei Professional Civil Engineers Association (臺北市土木技師公會) to inspect the dome's roof three times, on July 31, Sept. 13, and Sept. 23, alongside Farglory's technical staff. The third-party association confirmed the progress and provided professional advice on the repairs.
The department insisted that Farglory complete all repairs by late October and prevent future leaks. The newly formed evaluation committee will begin operational assessments in the first quarter of next year.