There were bigger matches to sample the new Bucheon experience than a pre-World Cup Sunday encounter with Pohang Steelers, but thankfully the club did not disappoint, winning 2-0 to record their first home win of 2026.

This fixture might have been the first time Bucheon FC 1995 welcomed this legacy K League club to their civic stadium, but Pohang were here two decades ago when another club, now known as Jeju SK, called it home.

How things must have changed.

That particular wound has only just healed, greatly helped by a fairytale promotion to K League 1 last winter. Against the odds, Bucheon finished third in the second division, before battering Suwon FC in the playoffs.

Even the weather tried to spoil their historic moment. An hour before the first leg, a sensational snowstorm forced the cancellation of the match just as the stands were beginning to fill.

The success against Suwon closed a long chapter in the wilderness. After toiling in K3, the Challengers League, K League Challenge, and finally K League 2 since 2008, Bucheon are finally dining at the top table.

For now, at least, no more Chungnam Asan, Ansan Greeners, or Chungbuk Cheongju to gorge on. The menu at Bucheon Stadium now includes Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan HD, and FC Seoul.

Familiar K League 2 grudge matches are also present and accounted for. The aforementioned Jeju SK have already visited, local-ish rivals FC Anyang and Daejeon Hana will arrive after the World Cup.

Fans of those clubs will be best-placed to notice the shifting Bucheon experience.

It is difficult to explain, but the vibes around Bucheon are totally different now. Sunday’s confident display, against superior opposition, has seen Lee Young-min’s team jump to ninth, above last season’s runners-up, Daejeon.

This was my first visit to their media centre since the snowstorm last December. The room hasn’t changed, but the decoration has. One large screen TV showed the match for members of the press who didn’t take their seats in the media zone.

I’ve never seen that before. The walls have been repainted – looking sharp in red and black. The club added two crests either side of the manager’s table. It is dripping with professionalism.

Outside, helped by two temporary pitch side stands, the atmosphere has always been good here. Now it is electric. The main supporters’ section behind the goal is unlike Anyang’s — essentially one long terrace. They jumped up and down for 90 minutes against Pohang.

The songs are better than before, and they do not rely on a heavy flag display to generate atmosphere. Sometimes, in K League, clubs take far too much inspiration from European football culture.

Bucheon is different.

The stadium was built in 2001. Perhaps it is a combination of extreme Korean summers followed by brutal winters that has left its mark, but this is a ground that has absolutely seen better days.

Yet there is a strange energy to the stadium that belies its appearance. This was not always the case. The concrete steps might be old and cracked, and large sections of the stadium empty or covered in dust, but it felt vibrant on Sunday night.

Before kick-off, there was a concert outside the stadium. That was when I got my first glimpse of how much this place has changed. I do not know who was playing, and I do not care. When a pop band comes to your stadium, you know life is not the same.

Legendary former captain Nilson Junior was among those attending the match. The Brazilian was back “on vacation.” What must he have made of his old club? Nilson experienced playoff heartbreak before departing in 2024.

One thing we can measure is attendance. Bucheon averaged 3,771 on their way to promotion. That figure is north of 7,000 now. It will rise further if performances like against Pohang become the norm.

The opportunity for more growth is there. Anyang have limited their potential by adding a third temporary stand, effectively blocking off the main stand of the original structure.

Bucheon Stadium, however, has several blocks devoted to VIPs, a pitch side media section, and entire areas given over to tables and families. This allows for a better range of pricing structures.

All they need now is a good team, a long-term vision, and a regular presence in K League 1. They have the stadium – it might be creaking, but it is alive to the sound of Hermes.