Tuesdays I have Korean Class at the YMCA but this Tuesday was Teachers Day so classes were cancelled. Instead they decided to take us students on a trip to the nearby Daegu Stadium to see a Samsung Lions Baseball Game. This was my first baseball game in Korea and it turned out to be quite a fun party Tickets were relatively inexpensive at 9000w ($8) compared to back home. As we approached there were many crowds, fans in tshirts and hats, and buying balloon sticks for 2000w ($1.50). There were lots of vendors selling fried chicken. As we entered game was already in play. Many people had boxes of fried chicken and the aroma just made you feel more hungry and craving. The home team Samsung Lions were playing a visiting team sponsored by KIA. Our team was fielding and the visiting team was batting. Everyone was enjoying what seemed to be a typical baseball game. When the first inning ending that suddenly changed. As the home team went up to bat suddenly it was party time. The team mascot, a Samsung Lion, took to the stage and began dancing as music played across the stadium. There was a medley of many rock and pop songs from the 70s-90s overlayed with korean lyrics supporting their team. youtube video : Dancing Lion http://youtu.be/XHguVA6TxHE The crowds were cheering along slogans. We could make out what sounded like 'we are the wombles'. This partying and singing went all thru our teams batting and did not rest for game play. It must have been disconcerting for the visiting teams players. When our innings ended the music stopped and the visitors came back to bat. After we got the first player out, as if to rub more salt in the wound the music started flaring up again as the lion took to the stage in festive mood. youtube video - Dancing Lion & Game Play http://youtu.be/kVDSS_fapJQ Now he was supported by four dancing girls doing K-Pop moves and waving flags like cheerleaders. This partying again would throw off the visiting team from game play. youtube video - Dancing Girls Part I http://youtu.be/7wKRuuA3lNk By this point we realized that the crowds probably weren't even interested in game play as by this time we had lost track of what was going on in the field we were so absorbed by the entertainment. I think korean didnt quite get the concept that you cheer for your team and boo they lose or the other team scores. Every time one of our players were out or the visiting team got a run they crowd became jubilant, the music started playing, and the lion started dancing. youtube video - Dancing Girls Part II http://youtu.be/QTfHMS2OtDs youtube video - Dancing Girls Part III http://youtu.be/xkqscoYvfqU Perhaps this was to give the visiting team some moral support, or visiting fans were mixed in with the crowds. I dont know, but it seemed quite strange. Then there was more sideshows as the lion wanted to see the best fan made banner or costume. A sandwich board man was called to the stage to show his banner, though he didnt get any prize. Finally I was getting tired and was going to leave. Then a group of four costume characters ran on the field with a canon gun. They fired shots into the crowds which were rolled up tshirts. After that I decided to leave as I was still quite tired from the weekends events and wanted to avoid crowds at the bus stop. The next day I had another athletics sporting event to goto at the world cup stadium so would be up late again. This would be a really fun event if I was not so tired. For the same price as a movie its probably more fun as its a big outdoor party. Best to go with a group of friends and dont forget your bucket of chicken!