It has been a spectacular opening half a year for Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP).
Construction work on KTSP, which was built on the site of the old Hong Kong International Airport, commenced in 2019 with its grand unveiling taking place in March 2025. This heralded the start of ‘Hong Kong Super March’ and contributed to the delivery of events such as Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Since then, Kai Tak Stadium has hosted various local and international sports events and concerts. In June, the Hong Kong, China Representative Team competed against India in the qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 at Kai Tak Stadium, marking the first competitive elite-level international football match held at the ‘Hong Kong Home Venue’.
In the same month, the Volleyball Nations League came to KTSP, while in July the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 witnessed friendly matches between football giants AC Milan and Liverpool FC, along with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, in August the PPA Pickleball Tour Asia visited Kai Tak Arena, adding to the variety of events heading to the Park.
Strategic location
“At Kai Tak Sports Park, our strategic location is crucial in attracting local, regional, and international audiences,” a KTSP spokesperson says. “The venue’s proximity to the airport and major transport links makes it easily accessible for visitors from around the world. With convenient public transport options and connections to the Greater Bay Area, which serves over 87 million people, we are ideally positioned to host events that appeal on multiple levels.”
Engagement has also been key in KTSP’s efforts to strike a balance between staging events that have local, regional and global appeal. “The versatility of KTSP allows us to incorporate elements that reflect the diversity of our audience, ensuring an inclusive and holistic experience for everyone. We aim for our events, and any associated programmes, to connect with local fans while also attracting regional and global audiences.”
KTSP’s facilities are headlined by the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, which serves as the anchor venue of a complex that also includes the 10,000-capacity Kai Tak Arena and the 5,000-capacity Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. With an array of additional offerings, KTSP can successfully stage sports events of various sizes and scales.
Visual landmark
KTSP showcases approximately 27,000 triangular aluminium panels with an iconic LED light facade, creating a striking global visual landmark of ‘The Pearl of the Orient’.
The venue boasts modern infrastructure that meets international standards, featuring a retractable roof and a stage pocket for staging and customisable seating configurations, flexible natural turf set-ups, and pitch-cooling and bowl-cooling systems that enable year-round events in any weather.
“Comprehensive support services, including event management expertise, state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, and robust security measures, ensure a seamless experience for organisers,” the spokesperson adds. “With over 700,000 square feet of retail space, including more than 200 shops and 70 dining outlets, KTSP greatly enhances the arrival experience.”
KTSP believes its commitment to community engagement is a further attraction for event organisers. The outdoor spaces at KTSP provide the opportunity to host various engagement activities, including dedicated fan zones. These areas are designed to enrich the overall visitor experience and encourage interaction among spectators, making them valuable assets for all types of events. Collectively, these features position KTSP as a premier choice for any events in need of a dynamic, versatile, and engaging venue.
Broad appeal
Since KTSP’s opening, more than 30 local and international sports events have taken place at the largest new integrated sports, leisure and entertainment hub destination. These events have attracted seven million visitors, with over one million attendees at the Kai Tak Stadium alone – a significant milestone.
Indeed, July’s Hong Kong Football Festival garnered nearly 100,000 spectators for just two matches, with sports complementing an opening year calendar that has also featured a wealth of entertainment events.
“The response from Hong Kong sports fans has been overwhelmingly positive,” the spokesperson says. “The AFC Asian Cup match between Hong Kong, China and India demonstrated the strong local fan base, drawing over 42,000 spectators to Kai Tak Stadium for its inaugural football event.”
“The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens also made a notable move from Hong Kong Stadium to Kai Tak Stadium for the first time in 2025. This three-day event exceeded 110,000 attendees, marking almost a 15-per-cent increase from the year before – and over 30,000 international visitors participated throughout that weekend.”
An evolving park
Looking ahead, KTSP already has plenty in the diary in terms of sporting events. In October, Kai Tak Stadium will be hosting Hong Kong China XVs’ first rugby match at the venue, against Japan; while Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand will captain two teams of legendary players for the ‘RED on RED: Gerrard 11 vs Rio 11’ game.
The Hong Kong, China Representative Team will also return to Kai Tak Stadium for its Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown will make its Asian debut at Kai Tak Arena and KTSP will be a venue as Hong Kong co-hosts the 2025 National Games of the People’s Republic of China from November 9-21.
Heading further into its debut year, KTSP will continue to evolve. “Apart from creating attractive content to draw local and global audiences and support economic growth, KTSP will continue to promote community engagement through programmes and workshops aimed at involving local residents while also supporting sports development on a global scale,” the spokesperson adds.
“We are also committed to sustainability initiatives, incorporating eco-friendly practices such as waste reduction, renewable energy sources and conservation efforts. We are continuously seeking to develop these initiatives that further enhance the visitors’ overall experience.”
To find out more about KTSP, head to their website.
