Despite the focus on the Rugby Sevens, the new stadium is designed to be a multifunctional venue that can host a variety of events.
Photographer: Lam Yik/BloombergHong Kong Joins Global Stadium Race With New $4 Billion Sports Park
The architect responsible for the city’s huge new stadium complex discusses the design choices behind it.
On Saturday, Hong Kong will officially open a new 50,000-seat stadium with a gala event, part of its bid to compete with cities around the region that are spending billions of dollars on state-of-the-art arenas to attract sports games and concerts by the world’s biggest stars.
Kai Tak Stadium is a big step forward for a city that has struggled to lure top performers in recent years. First mooted 20 years ago by the government, the building is the centerpiece of a 28-hectare (280,000 square-meter) sports park developed on the site of the old airport. The stadium has taken on greater political importance as Hong Kong looks to repair its international image and economy in the wake of a crackdown on dissent, pandemic restrictions and China’s slowdown.