Reports that came out on the 2nd indicate that the Tigers are strongly considering moving their farm facilities from Naruohama (bottom red dot, Nishinomiya) to Odaminami Park (far right dot, Amagasaki). Koshien Stadium is the dot on the far left of this map.
Preliminary planning has already begun as last week, the team has surveyed people living in the neighborhood and explained basic plans to them as well. Some Amagasaki City councilors have even posted pictures of design ideas on their social media accounts.
Based on what has been made public, the plan is to have a main playing field, a sub-playing field, and an indoor training facility. On top of that, the team will build a players’ dorm on the premises as well. It seems the club is aiming to have everything up and operating in time for 2025, the team’s 90th anniversary. Odaminami Park is just a three-minute walk from Daimotsu Station on the Hanshin line (six local stops from Koshien Stadium).
A representative of the Amagasaki City Municipal Economic Revitalization Committee has said, “We will be meeting with the head of the social welfare association later this week to explain the proposal. The Tigers are prepared to move forward with this move, provided the idea is welcomed by the community. It has not been finalized yet.”
The Tigers have played at the Tiger Den since October 1994, when the farm facility was completed. However, they have space for only two batting machines and generally feel that the area is too cramped. Talks of moving to a different area have swirled around team headquarters a few times in recent years.