棒球之城中山：“击”活百亿“体育+”赛道

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the role of sports events as a powerful engine for urban development, particularly in Guangdong province, where the 15th National Games and the Special Olympics will be held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area [1] Group 1: Development of Baseball in Zhongshan - Zhongshan has developed a new sports industry chain centered around baseball, leveraging high-standard venues and frequent events to create a comprehensive baseball ecosystem that includes event operations, talent development, and sports consumption [2][5] - The city is accelerating its "Sports+" strategy, using baseball as a lever to integrate cultural tourism and commerce, while also promoting rural revitalization and enhancing urban capabilities through initiatives like the "Hundred Million Thousand Project" [2][9] - Zhongshan will host the baseball events for the 15th National Games in November, marking a significant opportunity for the city to showcase its development trajectory [2][12] Group 2: Historical Context and Infrastructure - The development of baseball in Zhongshan has historical roots, dating back to the birth of Liang Fuchu, known as the "Father of Chinese Baseball," who was born in Zhongshan [5] - The city has established the "Zhongshan International Baseball Town," which includes high-standard facilities and aims to create a complete industrial chain that supports sports development [5][6] - From 2011 to 2024, the baseball town hosted 97 major events, including 3 Asian-level events and 16 national events, showcasing its capability to host high-level competitions [7][8] Group 3: Economic Impact and Tourism - The opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge has significantly boosted traffic and tourism, with over 31.55 million vehicles crossing in its first year, contributing to increased visitor numbers and economic activity in Zhongshan [9][10] - From July 2024 to May 2025, Zhongshan received 25.21 million tourists, generating a tourism revenue of 21.64 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 26.94% [10] - Events like the "Village BA" series have attracted over a million visitors, enhancing local economic vitality and promoting the integration of sports with cultural and tourism sectors [11][12] Group 4: Future Prospects and Challenges - Zhongshan is exploring a "Sports+" integration model that connects venue economics with surrounding tourism, cultural, and commercial resources, aiming to create a model for development in the Greater Bay Area [12] - Despite progress, challenges remain, such as a weak grassroots foundation for sports, the need for improved commercial operations, and high maintenance costs for venues [13] - The upcoming 15th National Games presents an opportunity for Zhongshan to enhance its urban infrastructure and promote sports participation, which could have a significant impact on the local economy and society [13][14]