Watching the World Baseball Championship over the years, I noted that the fans at the Asian venues (Tokyo Dome + Korea) were extra exuberant, cheer leaders, horns, percussion, etc. So I wanted to check out a game in Taiwan to see what the fan experience is like. Well...
First, the stadium. The Taipei Dome was just finished (sort of) but the home team was on the road. So Nisa got us all tickets and we drove down to Taitung for the game. I thought the stadiums would be on the level of US AAA teams, but they are bigger than that... and nicely designed.
I got an early preview of fan loyalty right in front of me. The elephant is the mascot of the Taichung Brothers (formerly the Elephants).
As the game progressed, insanity ruled. The cheerleaders came out between innings (as some MLB teams do), got the fans up singing, dancing, waving... but never sitting down! We were up for the full half inning doing the cheering thing, which, since the home team scored a couple, was about a half hour... in 85 degree heat and 80% humidity... as least we were in the shade, but the poor (and constantly energetic) cheerleaders were not).
When the visiting team came up to bat, suddenly several hundred fans in the bleachers stood up with their band, banners, signs, cheers, etc. for the entire at bat. Then back to the home team.
After a few innings, the cheerleads pooped out, so a bunch of kids were recruited for a few innings. Ages 14-2 (so cute).
In the bottom of the 5th, the home team got a 2 run homer to take the lead (and eventually win). Needless to say, the insanity ramped up beyond belief. High fives all around, more and more band, cheerleaders, cheering, waving chanting, etc. We had to get involved.
After 6 innings of extreme interval training (up half an inning, down half an inning) in the high heat and humidity, we bailed to get to the night market. Exhausting, but so much fun. No more sedate game watching for me...
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