TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As the Taiwan Professional Baseball League's new season begins on March 29, scheduling negotiations are underway with the Farglory Group, the operator and manager of Taipei Dome.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, baseball commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said weekday dates were given to the league. This led to discontent with baseball teams worried about lower box office numbers, per CNA.

Tsai said 39 games were scheduled for Taipei Dome. However, the schedule and venues for the new season have yet to be confirmed. 

"We are also going to test if this type of midweek schedule will work. I believe it will take one or two years to adjust," Tsai said. He added that one such test will come this Wednesday and Thursday as Team Taiwan takes on Korea’s Lotte Giants in a warm-up for the upcoming World Baseball Classic Qualifier.

Tsai admitted it would be hard for local baseball teams to match the drawing power of Team Taiwan. However, mid-week matches will indicate if audiences are willing to visit the venue during the work week.

Tsai said that scheduling games at Taipei Dome has been complicated as Farglory Group reserved weekends and holidays for concerts. Tsai hoped that more dates would become available, though the dates must also correspond with each team's baseball schedule.

Scheduling has been complicated this year, said Tsai. Starting next year, the league and Farglory Group have agreed on the number of games to be held at Taipei Dome each year.

Next year, the league will arrange for each team to have at least two homestands at Taipei Dome, giving each team six games. Since the Wei Chuan Dragons are based in Taipei, they will be given three more games.