The Japanese Baseball Organization (NPB) has begun full-fledged discussions on expanding the number of games.
According to a report by Japan’s “Sankei Sports” on the 19th, NPB and the secretary-general of the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association held negotiations in downtown Tokyo on the 18th.
Currently, the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) plays 143 games per team during the regular season. However, the NPB is pushing for an increase of five games to 148 games from the 2026 season.
“Sankei Sports’ said, “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 is putting pressure on the club’s management. The purpose is to compensate for the loss of the club due to the increase in the number of games.” First of all, the basic plan is to expand 5 games per team.
NPB played only 120 games per team in the aftermath of COVID-19 in the 2020 season, and played without spectators. According to Japanese media, the economic loss suffered by 12 clubs at that time is estimated to have reached about 142.3 billion yen (about 1.3 trillion won). Although spectators have normally entered from the 2023 season and the popularity of the game has revived, it is still not enough to cover the losses during the pandemic.
NPB maintained a system of 130 games per team for a long period of time from 1966 to 1996, and since then, the number of games has gradually increased, implementing a system of 135 games, 140 games, and 144 games, but the current system of 143 games has been established. If 148 games are played per team, the number of league matches will increase by one from the current 25 to 26 per team. 스포츠토토
“I am against simply increasing the number of games. I am concerned about the physical burden on the players. I am not completely opposed to it,” said the secretary general of the Japanese Professional Baseball Players Association, expressing concern over the possibility of finding another way for the players. “I am not completely opposed to it. Judging from the overall judgment of the league, I am not unconditionally opposed to it if I think it is necessary.”
Fans are also showing mixed reactions. It is welcome that the ratio of home-away matches will become the same as the number of matches played in the league becomes an even number system, but many people are concerned about the increase in the number of matches, as the opening and closing times of the regular season will change from before, which will have a significant impact on the overall schedule of spring camps and off-season.