The pool play of the 2026 World Baseball Classic  will kick off at Tokyo Dome from March 5 to 10. To rekindle fans’ passionate memories of the Classic, the Taichung City Government has specially relocated the historically significant “2023 WBC Giant Baseball Commemorative Installation Art” to Taichung Hub for display, and concurrently announced that live broadcasts of the games will be held at the Taichung City Government front plaza from March 5 to March 8, inviting baseball fans nationwide to gather in front of the 1,300 inch giant screen to cheer on Team Chinese Taipei.
The Sports Bureau, Taichung City Government stated that this Taichung exclusive giant commemorative baseball originated during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, when Major League Baseball officially requested each pool play host city to install an art piece that incorporated local characteristics. At the time, only four cities worldwide, Taichung, Tokyo in Japan, Miami in the United States, and Phoenix in the United States, installed the piece, symbolizing the honor of hosting a top tier international event. After the tournament, the installations in the other host cities were removed one after another. Taichung City alone has treasured this shared memory of the international event and has preserved the commemorative baseball intact to this day, making it the only remaining Classic installation in the world.
The Sports Bureau explained that the commemorative ball’s visual design was officially authorized by the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and was co created by 2022 GRAMMY Award winning designer Jheng Han Li and Taichung local mural artist Ming Hsiang Lai. The design integrates elements of Taiwan’s multiculturalism with imagery of Taichung City, and was once one of the most iconic landmarks at Taichung Hub. On the eve of the 2026 tournament, the Taichung City Government completed refurbishment of the commemorative ball and, on December 31, 2025, officially installed it at Taichung Hub and opened it to the public, allowing this inspiration to continue.
The Sports Bureau, Taichung City Government, further explained that, to build momentum for the tournament in advance, the Sports Bureau announced that it will launch a four week campaign starting February 2 titled “WBC Live at the Taichung City Government Front Plaza Prize Giveaway! Weekly Draws, On Site Pickup, Cheer for Team Chinese Taipei Together”! In the first three weeks, a limited number of tickets for the “2026 Taiwan Japan Baseball Exchange Series” will be raffled. Every Monday, the public can leave supportive messages on the Sports Bureau’s official fan page, and every Friday the winners will be drawn publicly, inviting fans to rally behind Team Chinese Taipei.
In addition, during the live broadcast period from March 5 to March 8, the Taichung City Government will prepare an additional 10 on site giveaways, which will be drawn at random at the live broadcast venue. The Taichung City Government Front Plaza will also set up a dedicated cheering zone, inviting fans to wear their team cheering attire and bring cheering props, gather in front of the 1,300 inch giant screen, and encouraging the public to take public transportation to the venue to experience the tournament excitement together.