Taiwan's baseball culture was introduced during the Japanese colonial period and hasOver a hundred years of history, making it one of the few countries in the world where baseball is considered the "national sport." According to statistics from the Ministry of Education's Sports Administration, Taiwan's baseball population exceeds 3 million. Since the CPBL was founded in 1990,Over 40 million people have attended games. The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Taiwan and Italy创下 a viewership record of Over 8 million people worldwide. This sport is not just competitive sports, but also an important symbol carrying Taiwan's social collective memory and cultural identity.
Baseball was introduced to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), when it was primarily promoted in schools and the military. The establishment of the Chiayi Agricultural School baseball team in 1906 is considered the origin of Taiwan's baseball, followed by legendary teams like the "Chiayi baseball team." After the war, baseball continued its influence, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) was established in 1990, marking the era of professional baseball in Taiwan. There are currently four teams: CTBC Brothers (home stadium Taichung Intercontinental), Uni Lions (Tainan), Rakuten Monkeys (Taoyuan), and Wei Chuan Dragons (Tianmu), with the season running from March to October annually. The Taiwan Series championship attractsover 150,000 live spectators. To learn more about each team's history and home stadium features, you can visit the CPBL official website and each team's official fan page.
CTBC Brothers uses gold as their color symbolizing power, and their slogan "Goal For One" inspires fans. The team features MVP-level star Lin Wei-zu; Uni Lions are a traditional powerhouse in southern Taiwan, with Tainan Baseball Stadium accommodating 20,000 people, and the team has won 10 championships in CPBL history, the most of any team; Rakuten Monkeys were originally Lamigo Monkeys, and after being taken over by Rakuten in 2019, they became the first foreign-owned team. Their home stadium, Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, is conveniently accessible from Taipei Main Station via the Airport MRT in just 35 minutes; Wei Chuan Dragons dissolved in 1999 and returned to the first division in 2021. The Dragon team's logo symbolizes inheritance and renewal, and their home stadium, Tianmu Baseball Stadium, is located in Taipei City for convenient access for metropolitan fans. Each team's official website provides the latest schedules and ticket information. It is recommended that fans follow to obtain pre-sale privileges.
CPBL adopts a zone-based pricing strategy. For the 2024-2025 season, general ticket prices range from TWD 200-500, with full inner field tickets approximately TWD 350-450 and full outer field tickets approximately TWD 200-300. Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium tickets are divided into three levels: Inner Field Zone A (TWD 450), Inner Field Zone B (TWD 350), and Outer Field Zone (TWD 200). Taoyuan Baseball Stadium is divided into Inner Field Reserved Seats (TWD 400), General Inner Field (TWD 300), and Outer Field General Admission (TWD 200). Online ticket platforms mainly include FamilyMart FamiPort, Uni ibon, and the CPBL official ticketing website. Ticket sales for each game open at midnight 7 days before the match. Popular matches (such as Opening Day, Taiwan Series) often sell out within 1 hour of sales opening. It is recommended that fans join each team's VIP membership to enjoy priority ticketing privileges. Season ticket holders can also receive limited-edition products and exclusive access.
Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium is the most modern professional baseball stadium in Taiwan, opened in 2006, with a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It is the home stadium of CTBC Brothers and a venue for the 2015 World Baseball Classic. The stadium design has won multiple architectural awards, featuring artificial turf and LED large screens. Both inner and outer field seating are equipped with water dispensers and charging stations. In terms of transportation, taking bus 151 directly from Taichung High-Speed Railway Station takes approximately 25 minutes. Drivers can park at two paid parking lots, P1 and P2 (TWD 100 per entry). The stadium area has complete facilities. There is a Starbucks and FamilyMart directly across the street. After the game, you can go directly to Fengchia Night Market (10 minutes by car) to enjoy Taichung cuisine. The Intercontinental Stadium also hosts sports brand events and concerts, making it an important multi-purpose venue in central Taiwan.
In Asia, Taiwan's baseball ranks third, after Japan and South Korea. The 2023 WBC Taiwan team advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-2 record. The matches against Italy, Netherlands, and Cuba both achieved excellent viewership ratings. Notable pitchers include Taiwanese pitcher Chiu Chiao-ren (who was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in 2021), and Chen Wei-yin (former pitcher for Japanese Chunichi Dragons). In terms of position players, Wang Po-jung, a classmate of Shohei Ohtani, performed brilliantly for Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, while Lin Chih-sheng holds the CPBL record with 330 home runs. In the 2026 Classic Qualifiers, the Taiwan team is seeded as the host of Group A and will face strong teams like the Netherlands and Nicaragua. Taiwan's national baseball team continues to exchange with various countries through international competitions like the Classic, Asian Games, and Premier12, cultivating multiple rookies with Major League potential.
The game-day experience at Taiwan's baseball stadiums is a unique "baseball festival" culture in Asia. Cheering methods use consistent口号and body movements across the entire stadium. Each team's exclusive dance squads are a unique sight: CTBC Brothers' "Elephant Annie" dance troupe is known for energetic dances; Uni Lions' "Uni Girls" members have an average age of 23 and often host interactive games; Rakuten Monkeys' "Rakuten Girls" features former S.H.E member Selina as vice-captain and has the highest popularity. The food culture by the field is distinctive, with beer carts selling around (approximately TWD 80-120 per cup), luwei stalls offering peanuts, dried tofu, pig blood cake, and other classic snacks (TWD 50-80 per serving), grilled sausage and bubble milk tea are essential for watching games. Outside food is prohibited inside the stadium but bottled water is allowed. Some teams offer "game-day combo" deals combining main dishes and snacks. Cheer song culture is another highlight. Each player has their own专属cheering song. When a batter gets a hit, the entire stadium automatically sings together, forming moving collective memories.
For search queries related to "Taiwan professional baseball game-watching guide," readers need to master three key pieces of information: First, confirm the target team and stadium. You can choose the nearest home stadium based on your residence to reduce transportation costs. Second, make good use of the online ticketing system. For popular matches, it is recommended to set an alarm to purchase. Third, wear team cheering color clothing and learn cheering口号in advance to integrate into the现场atmosphere for the best experience. For searches related to "CPBL ticket prices," the focus is on zone-based price differences and season ticket value calculation. Generally, inner field tickets are more comfortable but more expensive. Outer field tickets are suitable for fans with a limited budget but who want to experience the atmosphere. For questions about "How to get to Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium," From Taichung city area, you can take Taiwan Boulevard buses or UBER. Motorcycles can park in the motorcycle spaces outside the stadium (free). It is recommended to arrive 1 hour before the game to avoid crowd peaks. To make in-depth comparisons of stadium facilities and transportation convenience, you can refer to the Taiwan Baseball Shrine Complete Guide and each stadium's official website information.
FAQ：
Q1：How much are CPBL 2026 season tickets?
A1：In 2026, CPBL ticket prices range from TWD 200-500, with full inner field tickets approximately TWD 350-450 and full outer field tickets approximately TWD 200-300. Popular matches may increase by TWD 50-100.
Q2：What is the most convenient way to get to Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium?
A2：From Taichung High-Speed Railway Station, take bus 151 directly for approximately 25 minutes, or take UBER for approximately 15 minutes (fare approximately TWD 150-200). Drivers can park at the stadium parking lot for TWD 100 per entry.
Q3：Which Taiwan professional baseball team is best for first-time viewers?
A3：It is recommended to choose CTBC Brothers or Rakuten Monkeys. Their home stadiums are in Taichung and Taoyuan respectively, with complete hardware facilities and convenient transportation. The dance squads have strong interactivity, making them suitable for first-time experience of baseball atmosphere.
Q4：What local food must be eaten inside the baseball stadium?
A4：Classic stadium food includes beer (TWD 80-120 per cup), luwei platters (TWD 50-80), grilled sausage (TWD 30), bubble milk tea (TWD 50-70). Some stadiums offer local specialties such as Tainan dan zai noodles and Chiayi chicken rice.
Q5：Why is baseball called Taiwan's "national sport"?
A5：Taiwan's baseball population exceeds 3 million. CPBL attracts an average of 2 million spectators per season. In the 1980s, Taiwan's three-level baseball (Little League, Junior League, Senior League) achieved multiple championships at the World Series. Combined with the outstanding performance of advancing to the quarterfinals in the 2023 WBC, it has become the most representative sports culture symbol in Taiwan.
