TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒大聯盟) announced plans on Wednesday (Jan. 28) to host a large-scale public viewing event called "Taiwan Night" (台灣之夜) in Tokyo for the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The event, organized through a collaboration with a crowdfunding platform, aims to accommodate over 5,000 attendees during the sixth WBC tournament in March, according to CPBL President Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌). Organizers plan to expand from one to three locations due to overwhelming fan interest.
Tickets for the Taiwan-Japan matchup have sold out rapidly, creating a ticket-buying frenzy among Taiwanese baseball fans eager to watch the highly anticipated game. Tsai disclosed that organizers have completed initial planning and venue rental for the event, but the public broadcast is still awaiting final approval from Netflix, the tournament's broadcasting entity. The CPBL president revealed that venues for the expanded three-location event are currently under negotiation with Tokyo facilities.
Tsai expects the event to draw over 5,000 fans, including travelers from Taiwan, Taiwanese residents in Japan, expatriates, and Taiwanese businesspeople based in the country. Organizers will select venues within the Tokyo metropolitan area, prioritizing easy public transportation access and suitable indoor spaces for the broadcast. The "Taiwan Night" event aims to unite Taiwanese fans abroad during one of the most anticipated matchups of the international baseball tournament. ◼