TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A water leak at Taipei Dome disrupted the opening game of the Taiwan Professional Baseball League all-star weekend on Saturday, with water dripping from the upper deck onto fans seated below, per TVBS.
The incident occurred during what was expected to be a major showcase for professional baseball, with the two-day event attracting around 80,000 fans and selling out within hours. Each game is accompanied by a skills competition, cheerleaders, and specially invited musical performances.
Shortly after Saturday's game began at around 6 p.m., water started dripping from the ceiling near pillars in Section 119. The leak gradually spread toward nearby walkways and spectator seats, forcing fans in the affected area to relocate despite nearly every seat already being occupied.
Farglory Arena, the operator of Taipei Dome, said the incident was caused by a contractor hired by a restaurant in the adjacent Garden City that failed to shut off the water supply during construction work. The mistake resulted in a pipe rupture, localized water accumulation, and subsequent leakage, per TVBS.
Farglory said the problem was unrelated to Taipei Dome’s structure or operating systems. Staff immediately deployed buckets and erected plastic tarps to contain the leak while ensuring public safety.
In the future, Farglory said it will require businesses and contractors at the venue to confirm water and electricity supplies are shut off and complete safety inspections before leaving the site. The Taipei City Sports Bureau said it had instructed Farglory to supervise repairs by the restaurant operator as soon as possible and assist affected spectators with seating arrangements.
Leaks at Taipei Dome have been reported multiple times since the facility opened in late 2023, prompting renewed criticism from some fans who questioned whether all construction and maintenance issues had been resolved. After footage of the leak circulated on social media, many fans expressed surprise that water problems occurred despite clear and sunny weather conditions.
