Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, has expressed her intention to bring overseas football teams to the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park. The 50,000-seat venue, which recently hosted its grand opening, has already attracted interest from over 200 production entities seeking to host various events.
Speaking on a radio programme Tuesday, Law confirmed that while some events are still being finalized, the venue would be used for a variety of sports and concerts. She highlighted her passion for football and reiterated her commitment to attracting international teams to the park. “Healthy competition in the Asia-Pacific region is a good thing. I’m very confident that our Kai Tak Sports Park will be popular,” she said.
The new HK$30 billion (US$3.9 billion) venue aims to usher in a new era of mega-events in Hong Kong. The venue’s opening ceremony, held last Saturday, attracted over 33,000 spectators, with notable personalities such as Donnie Yen, Vivian Kong, and Fan Zhendong in attendance.
Additionally, a series of star-studded concerts are planned for the year, including performances by JJ Lin, Coldplay, and Jay Chou. The Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and the National Games in November are also set to take place at the sports park.
However, the opening was marred by reports of ticket touting, with some individuals allegedly offering to escort visitors through back entrances for a fee, bypassing security checks. Authorities are investigating the matter, and Law assured the public that measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We will definitely plug these loopholes,” Law stated. She also mentioned that technological solutions, like real-name authentication and facial recognition systems, would be considered to ensure the park’s smooth operation and security.
While confident in the long-term success of the park, Law did not provide a specific timeline for when it would achieve profitability.
Related topics:
