Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium to officially open on March 1

About 50,000 people join trial event, with stadium’s retractable roof open for first time to test noise levels

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Kai Tak Stadium has a retractable roof. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 12:28am, 5 Feb 2025Updated: 1:27am, 5 Feb 2025

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium will officially open on March 1, the government has revealed, as the venue hosted about 50,000 people as part of a stress test on Tuesday night.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui announced the date as officials reviewed Tuesday’s trial, which included the stadium’s retractable roof being open for the first time during a football match and noise-level tests at nearby residential estates.

“After the many drills we have conducted, we are satisfied with the outcome. We have also made a number of improvements and adjustments,” she said after the trial.

“To this day, we are highly confident that the stadium is able to operate smoothly and will officially open on March 1. We will announce the details of the opening later.”

The test run at the 50,000-seat stadium, the main venue in Kai Tak Sports Park, included an under-22 league football match between Kitchee and North district, along with fire drills and re-enactments of emergencies.

A crowd of 50,000 watched the football match on Tuesday night. Photo: Elson Li

Deputy Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said 80 per cent out of 48,000 spectators were able to disperse within 15 minutes, while 2,000 people stayed behind to take part in one fire drill.