Brisbane: New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih visited the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Populous, a global architecture firm known for stadium design, in Brisbane, Australia Tuesday to inform the city's decision on a site for the proposed New Taipei Dome.

According to Focus Taiwan, the New Taipei City government stated that Hou and his delegation held a meeting with Populous' Global Director Paul Henry and were presented with several Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium design projects by Senior Architect Nick Malyon. This visit is part of New Taipei's initiative to decide on the location for a proposed 50,000-seat multipurpose domed stadium, which is expected to be built in either Shulin District or Danhai New Town Phase 2 site in Tamsui District.

The final decision on the stadium's location is anticipated to be confirmed by mid-year, following comprehensive feasibility studies. In addition to the MLB stadium designs, Populous showcased their projects in Japan, South Korea, and Australia, reflecting their extensive experience in large-scale public construction across diverse cultural and market environments.

The presentation highlighted how strategic decisions during the design stage could enable stadium venues to "achieve both functionality and landmark status," attracting crowds even when events are not scheduled, as per the city government.

Mayor Hou embarked on this international visit on Monday, leading a delegation of local government officials and city councilors on a 10-day trip to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. The delegation aims to engage in discussions with local governments on urban development, medical and public health issues, and water resource management.