[Official Announcement] 'First 10 thousand won in Franchise History' — KBO's Youngest Team, KT, Has Done It! Suwon, Once Overflowing with Opposing Fans' Light Sticks, Is Now Filled with 'Wizards'

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz, the youngest club in the KBO League, has finally ushered in the era of its first 10 thousand won spectators in franchise history. This marks the 12th season since the team entered the first division in 2015, and it is a first in the history of Suwon baseball as well.

On the 5th, at home against the Lotte Giants in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park, KT drew a sold-out crowd of 18,700, surpassing the 1st million spectator mark for a single season for the first time in franchise history.

Having recorded a season cumulative total of 985,572 spectators through the game against Lotte on the previous day (the 4th), KT achieved its fourth consecutive sold-out game, bringing the cumulative attendance to 1,004,272. This is the first time that KT, which started as the 10th club in the KBO League, has surpassed 10 thousand won spectators in a single season, making it the 8th in history among KBO League clubs.

The significance is all the more special because it was the 1st million mark they narrowly missed last year. Last year, KT increased attendance to a franchise record high of 970,941 but fell short of 10 thousand won by 29,059 spectators.

This year was different. Maintaining hot box-office momentum until the end of the season, they have already surpassed last year's franchise record for most sold-out games in a single season (24 times), and on this day, recording their 28th sold-out game of the season, they finally broke through the wall of 10 thousand won spectators.

It is not simply a matter of increasing numbers. The fan base has also broadened. To provide more general fans with opportunities to attend, KT adjusted the scale of season tickets, resulting in an 82.19% increase in child members from 4,659 last year to 8,488 this year. Foreign members also increased by 46.18%, from 3,915 to 5,723.

The club has also been consistently moving to keep fans coming. They turned the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) into an opportunity instead. The 'Water Festival,' which became established as a Yeo Reum (CEO) event, has expanded its scale each year by enlarging water-spraying zones and combining mini concerts. Suwon KT Wiz Park introduced AI scoreboards, AI cheer pools, facial recognition entry systems, and improved convenience for family visitors through F&B facility renovations and the establishment of a kids' cafe.

Collaborations with popular animations such as 'One Piece' and 'Snoopy' also contributed to attracting new fans. Products that highlighted regional characteristics and club identity, such as Water Festival uniforms and Jeongjo uniforms, were also well received.

These efforts led to increased attendance and diversification of the fan base after the lifting of audience entry restrictions due to COVID-19. Attendance increased by 15% from 843,942 in 2024 to 970,941 in 2025, and this year is predicted to increase by a final 5.5% compared to the previous year. In particular, it is significant that while they played 73 home games last year, they have already surpassed 10 thousand won spectators at the point of having completed 71 home games as of today.

Above all, there was time accumulated on the field in the growth of the KT fandom. After Manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) took office in 2019, KT recorded its first .500 winning percentage that year and stepped onto the postseason stage for the first time with a second-place finish in the 2020 regular season. In 2021, they achieved their first integrated championship in franchise history, and in 2023, they returned to the Korea Series, finishing as runners-up. From 2020 to 2024, they experienced fall baseball for five consecutive years.

In the meantime, franchise stars that fans could cheer for, such as Go Yeong-pyo, So Hyoung-jun, Park Young-hyun, and Ahn Hyun-min, also grew. Through trades and the FA market, they consistently reinforced their roster with players like Kim Sang-soo, Heo Kyung-min, Kim Hyun-soo, Choi Won-jun, and Han Seung-taek, maintaining competitiveness. As victories accumulated and important fall games repeated, history and stories to remember together with KT were created for Suwon baseball fans as well.

Manager Lee, who has led KT since 2019, has watched the changes in the fandom more closely than anyone else. With the breakthrough of 10 thousand won spectators within reach on the previous day (the 4th), Manager Lee looked back, saying, "Every time I hear the national anthem, I look at the stands. In the first and second years, opposing fans often crossed over to our side, but at some point, I realized our fans were gradually crossing over to the other side. That was very gratifying."

He continued, "In the past, when looking at the outfield, all the opposing team's light sticks would cross over to this side, but these days, you can see far more of our light sticks," adding, "I really feel it has improved a lot. I am truly grateful to the fans."

The final journey toward 10 thousand won spectators was also shared with fans. KT provided 2027 season skybox invitations to customers who booked tickets in increments of 10,000 from the 910th,000th to the 990th,000th, and gifted postseason tickets through a lottery for the last 10 games of the regular season. For the customer who became the 1st millionth at the time of booking, they prepared a 2027 season designated seating season ticket and a skybox invitation.

Kang Eun-mi (31, residing in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, KT fan), who became the 1st millionth spectator, expressed her feelings, saying, "I still can't believe I was selected. I came a lot until last year, but this year I haven't been able to come often, and it feels like a lie even though I visited Wiz Park for the first time in a long while. I came with friends today, and it is an honor to remain as the club's 10 thousand wonth spectator, and personally, it seems like a day that should be left as a memory in my life."

She then smiled and said, "The team atmosphere is good this year, and the energy is positive, so I believe unconditionally that we will win the integrated championship. I will also pass on my 10 thousand wonth lucky energy. I will continue to follow diligently and cheer for KT's success."

Suwon KT Wiz Park was once a place where opposing team cheers were heard more loudly. Now, 10 thousand won people visit there in a single season. After victories, fall baseball, stars, and the club's consistent investments accumulated together, KBO's youngest team, KT, finally set another milestone as a '10 thousand won Spectator Club.'

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*This content was translated by AI.