The Nippon Ham Fighters' move from Tokyo to the Hokkaido capital of Sapporo was finalized Tuesday when Japanese baseball owners unanimously gave the green light to the Pacific League club's plan.
The approval officially paves the way for Nippon Ham to become the first team to relocate its franchise since 1992, when the Lotte Marines moved from Kawasaki to Chiba.
"Baseball fans have been spreading all over Hokkaido and business circles in Sapporo welcome the Fighters. I think there is much room for the prosperity of professional baseball there," baseball commissioner Hiromori Kawashima said.
The Seibu Lions of the Pacific League had originally opposed Nippon Ham's move to Hokkaido because of their own plans to use the Sapporo Dome as a second home.
Nippon Ham confirmed that the club will allow any other team in both the Central and Pacific Leagues to host several regular-season games at the Sapporo Dome.