My wife invited me to see Fighters (Hokkaido) vs Buffaloes (Osaka) baseball match in newly built Es Con Field. I am not a big baseball fan, but I have never been to the new stadium, which is home of Hokkaido’s beloved baseball team Fighters. The stadium is located a bit far from Sapporo city center and since it was a big event, the parking spot needed to be booked in advance, so we decided to go via public transportation. The stadium is one of new establishment built in Sapporo in recent years. There are many places in Sapporo that are waiting to be explored, do not forget, If you need help arranging private tour in Hokkaido, you can use our trip planner!

Escon Field Stadium: Arrival

Since we could not drive there due to fully booked parking spot, we went there via public transportation. We first took a subway to Oyachi Station and took a direct bus to the stadium. The bus only accept ticket bought in the station or credit card payment (touch system). Upon arriving in the stadium, there is sign saying that we cannot bring foods or drinks from outside. Pet bottle or own water container is allowed however. There is also a quick bag check in the entrance to make sure we do not bring any foods from outside.

Escon Field Stadium: Inside

This is a new stadium, and inside the stadium there are some restaurants and shops selling merchandise. The foods and drink price inside is relatively more expensive compared to normal price. The stadium itself looks a bit like a mall, and it is really nice place nonetheless.

Escon Field Stadium: Seats

The normal price of the entrance ticket and booked seat is around 3000 yen per person. My wife for some reason got the tickets for free from her sister. After exploring the stadium a little bit, we proceeded to our seats, which are located on the back side so we could see the whole field. We were lucky to be seated near journalist seats in which we could see some sports journalists working.

The Match: Fighters vs. Buffaloes

The game itself was quite entertaining. It was a match between Hokkaido team Fighters against Osaka team Buffaloes. Even though I am not Japanese or Hokkaido native, I have lived here for more than 7 years. So deep inside I really hope Hokkaido team Fighters can win this game. The match itself started with team Fighters losing. Even though in the end team Fighters could catch up, in the end team Buffaloes beat Fighters 5-4. This article focuses more on the stadium, and I am not sports journalist, so I will not add any sports commentary on the match.

Escon Field Stadium: VIP seats

Since both my wife and I are not big fan of baseball, we decided to leave earlier to avoid crowds. We decided to explore the stadium a little bit more on the way back. There are some VIP seats we spot, from seats with swings, seats with table, and even sauna room in which you can enjoy sauna while watching the game!

Beer girls

Baseball game in Japan is a bit similar to American baseball game, minus the brawling. Some similar things include beer girls, in which young ladies walk around selling beers to spectators. The beer price is of course more expensive compared to normal price. A cup of beer costs around 800 yen, which is 3 times more expensive compared to convenience store price.

Escon Field Stadium: Pet-Friendly Section

There are seats in the stadium in which you can bring your pets along to watch the game. There are also pet diapers provided in this area. If you are planning to watch the game with your pet, this stadium is definitely able to accommodate. There are places to put your pet cart while you are seated with your pet. For some reason this is the only place I could find a water-refill machine.

Escon Field Stadium: Terrace section

The stadium also has terrace sections in which you can smoke and enjoy BBQ. There are a BBQ restaurant located in one of the terrace in which you can dine while enjoying the outside scenery. There is also a section in which you can lay down under the sunlight in the terrace.

Escon Field Stadium: Entertainment Section

We also found a section in the stadium in which you can dine while enjoying some interactive games. Some of the games include a baseball throwing simulation and even batting simulation.

Escon Field Stadium: Outdoor Section

On the way back to the bus station, we also explored the outdoor section of the stadium. There are some food stalls as well as playground for families to enjoy with their children. There is a small field in which you can play mini baseball game with your loved ones. Overall, this stadium is worth visiting for at least once even though you are not baseball fan, specially with your family.