Kai Tak Sports Park ‘ready to open’, Hong Kong officials say after last big test

Final large-scale stress test includes one-hour performance by athletes and dancers at main stadium, with ‘Leave Easy’ webpage launched for crowd

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The final large stress test at Kai Tak Sports Park was held on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 9:59pm, 16 Feb 2025

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park is “ready to open” on March 1, authorities have declared after organising almost 20 test runs over the past four months.

Officials were speaking on Sunday following the HK$30 billion park’s final large-scale stress test, which involved more than 50,000 participants across three venues.

The new park, where British rock band Coldplay and Taiwanese megastar Jay Chou will perform later this year, is expected to be a key engine for the city’s mega-event economy push.

The test on Sunday afternoon included a one-hour performance by athletes and dancers at the main 50,000-seat stadium, while the rest of the participants were sent to the arena and youth sports ground to watch videos.

Half of the participants were civil servants, while the other half were members of the public. In an incident that was not part of the drill, a woman felt unwell and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei by ambulance.

To help disperse spectators faster, authorities for the first time launched a “Leave Easy” webpage to provide real-time information on the crowd situation and estimated walking time to railway stations and taxi ranks.