On March 20, a preparatory work conference was held for the 2026 Qilu Football Super League and Qilu Ball King Championship (Binzhou Division). The meeting outlined the event preparation plan and clarified task assignments. Member units of the event organizing committee delivered statements regarding their respective responsibilities.
The conference emphasized the need to approach the event from the strategic perspective of building a "sports powerhouse," highlighting the importance of hosting the competition. Hosting the "Qilu Super League," particularly the seven home matches in Binzhou, is not only a platform to showcase the city's image but also a political task reflecting urban responsibility. Event organization should be integrated with urban development and improvements in people's livelihoods, drawing on successful experiences to ensure public enjoyment and achieve the goal of hosting events for the people and benefiting the people.
It was stressed that systematic planning for "how to host the event" should be based on the development dimension of the "event economy." Using the competition as a link, integration as the pathway, and consumption as the goal, the hosting model should be carefully designed to deeply integrate the event economy with urban development, aiming to "invigorate a city by hosting an event." A series of integrated sports-tourism and sports-commerce activities will be launched to transform event "traffic" into urban development "growth" and event "enthusiasm" into consumption "momentum."
The conference also highlighted the need to demonstrate "exciting event hosting" from the perspective of promoting the "city名片." The Qilu Super League provides an opportunity to display Binzhou's image and enhance its reputation across the province. Efforts will be made to create a strong atmosphere by utilizing various media outlets to publish event information and preparation updates, fostering widespread public attention, participation, and support.
Ensuring "quality event hosting" from the overarching perspective of "safety as the bottom line" was underscored. All departments must maintain a risk-aware mindset, integrating safety measures throughout all stages of event preparation and execution to guarantee a secure and orderly competition.
The Qilu Football Super League (Binzhou Division) is scheduled to begin in late April. The first phase will consist of a single round-robin format, with the Binzhou team playing 15 matches—7 at home and 8 away. Home games will be held at the Binzhou National Fitness Cultural Center (Binzhou "Bird's Nest" Stadium). The opening match is expected to take place on April 25 or 26 against last season's runner-up, the Liaocheng team.
Player selection for the Binzhou team is nearly complete, and players will soon begin intensive training to prepare for the new season. It was also noted that, subject to security standards, more seats will be made available for spectators to purchase tickets and attend matches in person. The ticket sales system will be set up within the "Quality Binzhou" app, allowing fans to download the application and purchase tickets.