China Daily’s “Make it Simple” series explores the hottest topics in Hong Kong, going beyond the headlines. The third episode focuses on the upcoming opening of Hong Kong's largest sports park, Kai Tak Sports Park, set to welcome visitors on March 1 after decades of planning and construction.
1. What to Expect?
50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium: Features a retractable roof, a versatile pitch, and a façade made of 27,000 color-shifting aluminum panels.
Kai Tak Arena (10,000 seats) and Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground (5,000 seats): Open for community use when not hosting events.
Dining Cove: A 32,000-square-foot gourmet destination.
Kai Tak Mall: A 700,000-square-foot shopping mall with over 200 retail and dining outlets.
READ MORE: Chan: Stress tests to ensure Kai Tak Sports Park readiness
2. Flagship Events
March 4-9, 2025: World Snooker Grand Prix
March 28-30, 2025 Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament
April 8-12, 2025: Coldplay’s Music of The Spheres World Tour
April 25-26, 2025: Nicholas Tse’s Concert
June 27-29, 2025: Jay Chou’s Concert
November 9-21, 2025: The 15th National Games (selected events)
December 8-15, 2025: The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (selected events)
3. How to Get There?
Location: Built on reclaimed land on the site of former Kai Tak Airport, overlooking Kowloon Bay.
By MTR: Alight at Kai Tak Station or Sung Wong Toi Station on the Tuen Ma Line.
By Bus: Over 60 bus routes serve stops near the park.
By Ferry: Take the North Point-Kowloon City ferry.
4. Development Milestones
July 1998: Kai Tak International Airport closes.
July 2004: HKSAR government commissions the Kai Tak Planning Review, emphasizing public consultation and “zero reclamation”.
November 2007: Draft Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan approved, aiming to develop the area as a “Heritage, Green, Sports, and Tourism Hub.”
January 2013: Government invites initial expressions of interest for the park’s development.
April 2019: Construction of Kai Tak Sports Park begins.
October 2024: First trial game held at the park.
December 2024: Kai Tak Mall begins trial operation.
January 2025: First trial concert held, followed by a large-scale stress test with over 60,000 participants.
5. Why Does Hong Kong Need Kai Tak Sports Park?
Chronic Venue Shortages:
Existing facilities like Hong Kong Coliseum (12,500 seats) and AsiaWorld-Arena (14,000 seats) are too small and often fully booked up to a year in advance.
Major artists like Taylor Swift skipped Hong Kong, opting for Tokyo and Singapore for concerts, with officials citing strained venue capacity as a key reason.
Top global venues like LA’s SoFi Stadium (70,000 seats) and Tokyo’s Japan National Stadium (68,000 seats) far exceed Hong Kong’s current capacities.
Economic and Cultural Impact:
Inability to host large-scale events hampers tourism, economic growth, and local sports development.
READ MORE: HK’s newest mega-event to promote premier snooker brand
6. How Will It Boost Sports and Entertainment?
For Athletes: Local competitors gain home-ground advantage, and the public gains access to elite events.
For Entertainment: Attracts global superstars previously deterred by venue limitations.
Economic Benefits: Hosting global acts like Coldplay draws inbound visitors and generates significant income through direct spending and rent, providing a boon to HKSAR’s “mega-event economy” agenda.
Sources: Interviews, online discussions, articles, and media reports conducted and compiled by Li Lei.
