Hong Kong Stadium to have capacity reduced to 5,000 after completion of Kai Tak Sports Park
The Hong Kong Government is to repurpose the city’s Hong Kong Stadium from its current capacity of 40,000 to 9,000 once the Kai Tak Sports Park project is completed in 2023.
The special administrative region has operated Hong Kong Stadium as its main sports venue since it was redeveloped from the old Government Stadium in 1994. However, with development advancing on the Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong Commissioner for Sports Yeung Tak-keung advising that the Government is planning for the venue’s long-term future.
Speaking to told local broadcaster RTHK yesterday (9th November), Yeung advised “we consider that by 2023, 2024, in Hong Kong we do not need two big stadiums of similar capacity.
“We can have top-level events at Kai Tak and other tiers of events in Hong Kong Stadium as well as in Tseung Kwan O, Mong Kok stadiums etc, so there will be a clear division of work among the different facilities.”
Yeung said the redeveloped Hong Kong Stadium will help local sports development by allowing events of different levels to take place, adding “for example, at the moment some football clubs or the Football Association want to play some football matches at the Hong Kong Stadium, but they think they may not attract over 10,000 spectators or they would consider that the gate receipts may not be able to cover the cost.
“The current facilities at the Hong Kong Stadium are not up to current standards for hosting international football matches.”
A Leisure and Cultural Services Department report submitted to Wan Chai District Council this week stated that a reduction in capacity from 40,000 to 9,000, rather than 18,000, would be preferable for noise pollution reasons.
A technical feasibility study for a redevelopment of Hong Kong Stadium is set to be conducted in the coming year, with work to commence after the Kai Tak Sports Park opens.
The new-look Hong Kong Stadium will be a more intimate venue for smaller-scale events, while it will also have an athletics track added.
The new Kai Tak Sports Park, will have a 50,000-seat stadium at its centrepiece, operated by ASM Global.
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