https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/318997/feed The Kai Tak Sports Park is a multisports development on the site of the old airport at Kai Tak in Hong Kong. First mooted in 2007, it will have a 50,000-seat main stadium with a retractable roof, an indoor sports centre with 10,000 seats and a public sports ground with 5,000 seats. The groundbreaking was held on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, and the HK$30 billion park is to be finished by June, 2023. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Paul McNamara Paul McNamara More than 30,000 Hong Kong fans gave Gianni Infantino their raucous verdict on his leadership of world football on Saturday, before and after watching the city team beat Cambodia 2-0 to be crowned inaugural Fifa Asean Challenge Cup champions. Infantino, the Fifa president, was lustily booed when he delivered the trophy to the pitch alongside local football association president Pui Kwan-kay before kick-off. When he returned to present the spoils to Hong Kong, the stadium PA was raised to an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3369668/fifa-asean-cup-gianni-infantino-incurs-hong-kong-fans-wrath-city-team-claim-trophy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3369668/fifa-asean-cup-gianni-infantino-incurs-hong-kong-fans-wrath-city-team-claim-trophy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:28:28 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A Hong Kong team “in transition” will battle upwardly mobile and ambitious Cambodia on Saturday for the unremarkable honour of being crowned Fifa Asean Challenge Cup champions. Although the city team copped some flak for their performance in a 2-0 victory over Brunei on Wednesday, having trounced the same opponents 10-0 three years ago, Roberto Losada and his players should be cut some slack after the head coach made nine changes from the 4-0 victory over Laos three days earlier. Equally, Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3369607/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-hong-kong-city-team-set-cambodia-asean-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3369607/fifa-president-gianni-infantino-hong-kong-city-team-set-cambodia-asean-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Vladica Grujic said Hong Kong played “a completely different level of football” from his Laos side, after the world No 186 ranked team were thumped 4-0 in the Fifa Asean Cup on Sunday. Sun Ming-him and Everton Camargo, brilliantly, netted in the opening half, before Dudu’s 55th-minute header defeated the flimsy defences of Souksamone Vethita, and Matt Orr emphatically converted a stoppage-time penalty. Unsurprisingly, Laos did not prove a hot ticket, although the 18,873 fans inside Kai Tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368969/fifa-asean-cup-hong-kong-brink-final-midfielder-stars-return-exile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368969/fifa-asean-cup-hong-kong-brink-final-midfielder-stars-return-exile?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Vladica Grujic skirted the question over why he wanted to remain Laos head coach after the dismal fallout from their recent Asean Championship campaign, but the inquiry was valid. The opponents for Hong Kong’s opening Fifa Asean Cup match at Kai Tak Stadium on Sunday, Laos made wholesale changes for the tournament after the country’s football federation called for an investigation into alleged match-fixing, bribery and illegal gambling among its own squad following a series of heavy Asean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368899/mired-match-fixing-scandal-hong-kongs-next-opponents-laos-hope-reinvention-holds-key?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368899/mired-match-fixing-scandal-hong-kongs-next-opponents-laos-hope-reinvention-holds-key?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The local football association has planted its flag in the camp of Gianni Infantino, the embattled Fifa president who is expected in Hong Kong for the final of the second-tier Asean Cup on October 3. At a media event to announce details for the coming competition on Friday, Eric Fok Kai-shan fudged the direct question over whether Infantino retained his organisation’s backing. But the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said that “whoever supports Hong Kong football... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368027/fok-fudges-hong-kong-football-chiefs-appear-ready-make-gianni-infantino-their-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3368027/fok-fudges-hong-kong-football-chiefs-appear-ready-make-gianni-infantino-their-man?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung English Premier League football club Chelsea’s lucrative new front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with a stablecoin issuer has left Hong Kong fans and retailers concerned about whether wearing or selling the top counts as illegal promotion under digital currency laws. Chelsea signed the deal with Circle to feature its USDC stablecoin brand on player jerseys for the 2026-27 season in late August, just three months after the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned Premier League clubs about... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3366500/why-chelsea-football-shirts-are-making-hong-kong-fans-nervous-about-crypto-laws?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3366500/why-chelsea-football-shirts-are-making-hong-kong-fans-nervous-about-crypto-laws?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok American singer and rapper Post Malone has postponed his coming Hong Kong show, prompting complaints from disappointed fans in mainland China who said they had already booked holiday leave and hotels. Announcing the decision on social media on Thursday, concert organiser Live Nation Hong Kong said the September 16 show at Kai Tak Stadium had been postponed. The statement, which gave no reason for the move, outlined full refund arrangements for fans who bought tickets through official... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365496/us-singer-post-malone-postpones-hong-kong-concert-sparking-fan-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365496/us-singer-post-malone-postpones-hong-kong-concert-sparking-fan-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:28 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang American pop star Bruno Mars will return to Hong Kong for the first time in nearly a decade to play four shows at Kai Tak Stadium in May 2027 as part of an expanded Asian leg of his “The Romantic Tour”. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter would perform in Hong Kong on May 7, 8, 11 and 12, with other Asian dates planned in Singapore, Japan, Thailand and elsewhere, organiser Live Nation announced on Thursday. The concerts will be Mars’ first in Hong Kong since his 24K Magic World Tour shows at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365408/bruno-mars-play-4-shows-hong-kong-next-may-returning-after-nearly-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3365408/bruno-mars-play-4-shows-hong-kong-next-may-returning-after-nearly-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:48:48 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Aston Villa were said to have had their noses knocked out of joint when they had to train at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground last week, while Liverpool were not particularly enamoured when fans could peer into the exposed venue to watch them practice 12 months ago. Moreover, the 5,000-capacity arena, dwarfed by the adjacent Kai Tak Stadium, has proved a hard sell locally, with no tenant obtained since it opened in March last year. Kitchee, the Hong Kong Premier League champions, understandably... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3364148/kowloon-city-eye-move-kai-tak-ambitions-attract-new-audience-build-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3364148/kowloon-city-eye-move-kai-tak-ambitions-attract-new-audience-build-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu More than 86,000 football fans passed through Kai Tak Stadium over two nights recently as Manchester City faced Inter Milan and Chelsea took on Juventus. Supporters filled nearby malls and restaurants, with some merchants reporting foot traffic three to four times higher than usual. For those few hours, Kai Tak offered a glimpse of what Hong Kong’s day-to-night economy could become: international visitors and local residents arriving early and extending the occasion beyond the stadium. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3363676/hong-kongs-night-economy-must-focus-after-dark-vibes-not-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3363676/hong-kongs-night-economy-must-focus-after-dark-vibes-not-events?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal The arrival of BTS’s world tour in Hong Kong next year is expected to be a sure-fire hit with the city’s hospitality sector, with hotels likely to see a similar surge in bookings to the one experienced in Seoul earlier this year when the South Korean pop superstars launched their comeback series of concerts, according to analysts. When BTS kicked off their Arirang world tour – their first since completing mandatory military training – in the South Korean capital in April, local hotels recorded a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3363777/bts-bump-hong-kongs-hotels-set-bonanza-superstars-arirang-world-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3363777/bts-bump-hong-kongs-hotels-set-bonanza-superstars-arirang-world-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After two straight victories, Aston Villa were beaten in the third and final match of their Asian tour, although Bayern Munich, 2-1 winners at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, were a rather different proposition from Indonesia All Stars and BG Pathum United. Not that Unai Emery would be unduly worried by the outcome of this Audi Football Summit contest, played on a scarred surface that Vincent Kompany called “challenging”, in front of a supposed 38,176 fans, and lit up by a goalscoring second-half... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363360/bayern-munich-beat-aston-villa-hong-kong-emery-left-financial-puzzle-solve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363360/bayern-munich-beat-aston-villa-hong-kong-emery-left-financial-puzzle-solve?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:44:36 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Xabi Alonso said he had to “adapt to the circumstances” of a helter-skelter pre-season tour, as Chelsea prepared to jet to Indonesia following their 1-0 Hong Kong Football Festival defeat by Juventus on Wednesday. Edon Zhegrova curled in a superb 20-yard winner after 68 minutes at Kai Tak Stadium, inflicting a second straight defeat on Chelsea after their 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney five days earlier. Manager Alonso, who was unhappy with a patchy-looking Kai Tak playing surface, sent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363099/xabi-alonso-adapting-whirlwind-chelsea-pre-season-after-juventus-loss-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363099/xabi-alonso-adapting-whirlwind-chelsea-pre-season-after-juventus-loss-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Mateo Kovacic has conceded that Manchester City are under pressure to regain the Premier League crown they last claimed two years ago, although the Croatian midfielder could not guarantee he would be around for the first campaign of the post-Pep Guardiola era. After winning four straight titles, City have seen Liverpool and Arsenal finish top of the pile in the past two seasons. Kovacic’s former club Chelsea, where he spent five years before joining City in 2023, have spent heavily this summer... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363029/mateo-kovacic-acknowledges-manchester-city-under-pressure-regain-premier-league-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3363029/mateo-kovacic-acknowledges-manchester-city-under-pressure-regain-premier-league-title?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jeremy Monga’s ascent from cage football to the Premier League has been so swift that even his friends are “star-struck”. Bought by Manchester City from Leicester City last month for £12.5 million (around US$16.8 million), the 17-year-old told the South China Morning Post: “My friends never know what’s going to happen next, I just keep coming up with surprising things. “To be honest, I never know myself what will happen next.” Staging posts along Monga’s meteoric rise have included playing in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362929/manchester-city-whizz-kids-meteoric-rise-cage-football-premier-league-15?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362929/manchester-city-whizz-kids-meteoric-rise-cage-football-premier-league-15?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Mykhailo Mudryk was the name on everybody’s lips on Tuesday, 24 hours before Chelsea’s clash with Juventus in the second and final match of the 2026 Hong Kong Football Festival. Signed for a deal worth up to £89 million (about US$120 million) in January 2023, Mudryk was this week cleared to return to action, having been banned since November 2024 after returning an “adverse finding” for meldonium. Although the Ukrainian has recognised that he breached anti-doping rules, and accepted a suspension... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362971/all-eyes-returning-banned-player-chelsea-face-tough-juventus-test-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362971/all-eyes-returning-banned-player-chelsea-face-tough-juventus-test-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:59:29 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara If the addition of Danny Welbeck and arrival of Jordan Henderson underline that Chelsea have rowed back on their age-over-experience recruitment policy, then the Premier League club’s gamble on youth over the past four years has not been a total bust. While some players have come and gone in quick time, or have slipped into obscurity entirely as collateral damage of the club’s stockpiling of youngsters from around the globe, others have proved to be shrewd investments. Cole Palmer, bought for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362828/chelsea-star-out-impress-xabi-alonso-hong-kong-after-overcoming-tough-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362828/chelsea-star-out-impress-xabi-alonso-hong-kong-after-overcoming-tough-start?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The consolation for Pierre Kalulu after he missed selection for France’s glittering World Cup squad was that he got to go to North America to watch his brother play for Democratic Republic of Congo instead. It was seeing Gedeon in North America, and another older brother, Aldo Kalulu, who plays for China League 1 side Nantong Zhiyun, make the grade that led Pierre to believe becoming a professional was the most natural thing in the world. “When you see an older brother do something, it feels... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362752/juventus-star-fresh-hong-kong-after-family-consolation-eased-world-cup-blow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362752/juventus-star-fresh-hong-kong-after-family-consolation-eased-world-cup-blow?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 07:00:06 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The Hong Kong Football Festival is more than just another string to the city’s sporting bow, and in fact the 180 minutes on the pitch may be the least important part of the week. An event that injected HK$437 million (US$56 million) into the local economy last year comes with a global credibility previously missing when games mostly involved players from seasons past. Hong Kong is one of seven regions or countries in which promoters TEG Sports are overseeing 19 matches in 16 days, and the city... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362684/hong-kong-football-festivals-economic-impact-stretches-far-beyond-citys-borders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362684/hong-kong-football-festivals-economic-impact-stretches-far-beyond-citys-borders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:27 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The public listing of Shanghai Jiushi Dongyu Culture, Sports & Tourism Group will serve as a landmark precedent for China to experiment with an integrated, market-driven sports model, according to an industry expert. Mark Thomas, managing director of China-focused sports events consultancy S2M Consulting, believes the major asset restructuring will ultimately deliver a better overall experience for local sports fans by unifying diverse business functions under a single corporate umbrella. Listed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3362565/taking-shanghai-group-public-landmark-move-test-case-china-sport-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3362565/taking-shanghai-group-public-landmark-move-test-case-china-sport-business?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Whatever he does in the rest of his career, Divin Mubama can always say he scored the first goal of Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City reign, the 21-year-old striker netting in the 14th minute against Inter Milan, before the English club lost on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday. With all respect to Mubama, who was on loan at Stoke City last season, not many of the 42,826 crowd for this first match of the Hong Kong Football Festival were here to deliberate over his future... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362657/manchester-city-pay-penalty-against-inter-milan-hong-kong-maresca-happy-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362657/manchester-city-pay-penalty-against-inter-milan-hong-kong-maresca-happy-start?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:15:54 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Enzo Maresca played a straight bat in a 12-minute press conference, as he uttered his last public words before taking charge of Manchester City for the first time on Saturday against Inter Milan. Italian Maresca played down the importance of making a fast start as boss, saying he was ready to be “judged always, not just tomorrow”. The former Chelsea boss refused to be drawn into the controversy over Fifa’s deeply unpopular plot to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors, and gave... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362599/enzo-maresca-ready-manchester-city-judgment-days-ahead-hong-kong-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362599/enzo-maresca-ready-manchester-city-judgment-days-ahead-hong-kong-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu acknowledged that English clubs were operating on a different financial plane from their Italian counterparts, as his club completed the free transfer signing on Friday of “charismatic” former Manchester City defender John Stones. Although still hunting for players who “allow us to raise our level, who have so much enthusiasm and want to be part of this wonderful group”, Chivu has spent roughly £35 million (US$47 million) this summer, while City, Inter’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362588/hong-kong-football-festival-inter-milan-coach-vows-do-our-best-against-man-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362588/hong-kong-football-festival-inter-milan-coach-vows-do-our-best-against-man-city?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:58:22 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong could cement its place as a host on fencing’s elite Grand Prix circuit for years to come if everything goes well at an inaugural event next May. With officials and athletes praising the way the Kerry Fencing World Championships have been staged over the past 10 days at AsiaWorld-Expo, the decision to have the city replace Shanghai on the three-stop circuit alongside Turin and Lima has been welcomed across the sport. While sources told the South China Morning Post that Shanghai, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3362406/hong-kongs-hosting-nous-crowd-support-seen-key-locking-fencing-grand-prix-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3362406/hong-kongs-hosting-nous-crowd-support-seen-key-locking-fencing-grand-prix-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After drawing a mental line under the “chaotic” end to his World Cup, Josko Gvardiol has turned his focus to the “fight” to be a key figure in Manchester City’s brand new Enzo Maresca-led era, a process the defender is beginning in “beautiful” Hong Kong this week. Signed in 2023 shortly after Maresca left his Etihad Stadium coaching post to take over at Leicester City, Gvardiol will play under the Italian manager for the first time when the 10-time English champions face Inter Milan at Kai Tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362431/after-world-cup-chaos-manchester-citys-josko-gvardiol-hong-kong-targeting-key-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362431/after-world-cup-chaos-manchester-citys-josko-gvardiol-hong-kong-targeting-key-role?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong have been handed a date with feted former head coach Jorn Andersen after the city team were drawn in the same group as Myanmar for the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup in September and October. Hosting the tournament’s second-tier as an invited team, Hong Kong will also face Brunei in Group A of the “Challenge Division”, with the table toppers booking a final against one of Cambodia, Laos and East Timor, the three teams in Group B. The group runners-up will be condemned to a third-place... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362360/jorn-again-hong-kong-set-fifa-asean-cup-reunion-old-boss-after-myanmar-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362360/jorn-again-hong-kong-set-fifa-asean-cup-reunion-old-boss-after-myanmar-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 06:35:37 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Christian Vieri believes his former teammate and manager Roberto Mancini is the right man to revive Italy after the country’s football federation reappointed their European Championship-winning boss to conclude an extraordinarily chaotic head coach hunt. In Hong Kong for his old club Inter Milan’s clash with Manchester City at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday, Vieri also said it was only a matter of time before China stages the World Cup. Reportedly rejected by Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362290/china-will-host-world-cup-soon-roberto-mancini-right-italy-says-christian-vieri?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362290/china-will-host-world-cup-soon-roberto-mancini-right-italy-says-christian-vieri?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Disgruntled supporters have hit out at organisers of next month’s Hong Kong clash between Bayern Munich and Aston Villa after top-tier ticket prices were slashed by HK$1,000 (US$128). Meanwhile, Saturday’s game between Manchester City and Inter Milan, and the friendly between Chelsea and Juventus the following Wednesday have both proved a tough sell, with thousands of seats still available. Around 30,000 have been sold for the first part of the Hong Kong Football Festival, which is being played... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362226/thousands-football-festival-seats-unsold-fans-fury-bayern-ticket-prices-slashed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3362226/thousands-football-festival-seats-unsold-fans-fury-bayern-ticket-prices-slashed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:00:39 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye From attracting tourist spending to live streaming world sports events like the Fifa World Cup, Hong Kong developers have tried to claw their way through a challenging retail market and found a rare boost to shopping malls. As crowds converged on neighbourhood malls to watch live broadcasts of World Cup matches, restaurants, sportswear retailers and consumer electronics stores were among the biggest beneficiaries. Sino Group, which spent more than HK$8 million (US$1 million) broadcasting all 104... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/money/spending/article/3361271/fifa-effect-hong-kong-developers-bet-sport-fever-keep-shoppers-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/money/spending/article/3361271/fifa-effect-hong-kong-developers-bet-sport-fever-keep-shoppers-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:56:11 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong is seeking to promote itself as a city that visitors “feel” rather than merely see under a new global tourism campaign highlighting experiences ranging from mahjong games and tram rides to hidden beaches and Kai Tak Stadium. Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon told the South China Morning Post on Sunday that the “Only in Hong Kong” campaign aimed to redefine how travellers experienced the city and distinguish it from other destinations. “Moving beyond a place to see,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3361106/global-tourism-push-promotes-hong-kong-city-be-felt-not-just-seen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3361106/global-tourism-push-promotes-hong-kong-city-be-felt-not-just-seen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:50:01 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China lost their second match at the Volleyball Nations League on Saturday night when they went down 3-1 to a desperate Dominican Republic side in a hard-fought encounter at Kai Tak Arena. Despite this defeat in their penultimate preliminary match to a Dominican team ranked 15th out of 18 competing nations, China had already secured a spot in the finals as hosts and will feature in the coming games in Macau later this month. China held a 6-4 record after 10 VNL rounds, while the Dominicans... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3360246/china-back-losing-ways-against-dominican-republic-volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3360246/china-back-losing-ways-against-dominican-republic-volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:03:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Kai Tak Stadium is justifiably Hong Kong’s flagship venue for top events, with world-class concerts and sports competitions packing the calendar following its opening in March last year. The good shows continue to enrich city life as well as Hong Kong’s credentials as a premier hub for mega-events. Yet there are occasional setbacks, the latest involving Cantopop diva Sammi Cheng Sau-man’s concerts. Due to “a critical component failure during the testing process and stage set-up”, the three-day... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3359936/concert-delay-affects-hong-kongs-reputation-mega-event-host?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3359936/concert-delay-affects-hong-kongs-reputation-mega-event-host?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s women’s volleyball team suffered a tight 3-2 defeat to Canada in their opening match of the Hong Kong leg on Wednesday, failing to secure a morale-boosting victory. Stepping onto the court at 8.30pm for the day’s final match, the hosts were met with cheers as intense as the local weather. China took the first set relatively smoothly at 25-19, outperforming Canada in spikes (13-11) and blocks (4-0), while tying in aces (2-2) and opponent errors (6-6). The hosts dominated the net during... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3359893/china-make-losing-start-canada-belgium-italy-win-volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3359893/china-make-losing-start-canada-belgium-italy-win-volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:32:43 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang The coach of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team said the team were looking forward to testing themselves on home soil in the Hong Kong leg of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) starting on Wednesday, saying they had to learn to focus on their own performance when facing elite opponents. For the young Chinese squad, the five-day tournament – their final preliminary campaign before the finals in Macau later this month – will feature consecutive matches against Canada, Ukraine, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3359760/volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong-chinas-women-team-keen-test-themselves-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3359760/volleyball-nations-league-hong-kong-chinas-women-team-keen-test-themselves-home?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Cantopop star Sammi Cheng Sau-man has expressed shock and disappointment after a stage glitch forced the delay of her highly anticipated concerts in Hong Kong at the eleventh hour. The three-day event, scheduled for Friday to Sunday at Kai Tak Stadium, is the final stop of Cheng’s Asia Tour. It will be watered down into 1½-hour free appreciation shows at the same venue, times and dates, with ticket holders given the choice to opt for a refund or retain their passes for future dates. The concerts... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3359593/cantopop-star-sammi-chengs-kai-tak-stadium-concerts-postponed-over-stage-glitch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3359593/cantopop-star-sammi-chengs-kai-tak-stadium-concerts-postponed-over-stage-glitch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:26:48 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. Hong Kong should focus on becoming “bigger and better”, rather than expecting neighbouring cities such as Shenzhen to “stand still”, the city’s tourism chief has said, as the government prepares its first five-year plan and seeks to raise the sector’s contribution to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3357965/competing-tourists-then-hong-kong-must-be-bigger-and-better-rosanna-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3357965/competing-tourists-then-hong-kong-must-be-bigger-and-better-rosanna-law?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The frenzy surrounding ticket sales this week for BTS’s coming concerts at Kai Tak Stadium should be a wake-up call for Hong Kong’s policymakers and event organisers. On the day tickets went on presale, many local fans reported being repeatedly locked out of HK Ticketing’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3356826/bts-ticket-chaos-hong-kong-must-get-serious-bots-and-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3356826/bts-ticket-chaos-hong-kong-must-get-serious-bots-and-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s football fans have much to look forward to this summer, from the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada to the city’s hosting of top clubs from England, Italy and Germany. But amid all the excitement about games featuring the sport’s top players, there is a need to ensure local football is supported and developed. The domestic season ended on May 30, with Tai Po beating Eastern District in the FA Cup final, following Kitchee’s winning of the Premier League. There have been... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356081/harness-world-cup-fever-grow-hong-kong-football?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3356081/harness-world-cup-fever-grow-hong-kong-football?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li China topped the medal table at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on Sunday, while the host city also enjoyed a record-breaking week at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. The four-day meet was the first international athletics competition at Kai Tak Sports Park since its opening last year, with Hong Kong fielding 39 men and 30 women. The city’s athletes broke seven under-20 records and one all-age Hong Kong record, and finished with two silver medals and one bronze. The final day... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3355480/more-medals-records-hong-kong-final-day-asian-under-20-athletics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3355480/more-medals-records-hong-kong-final-day-asian-under-20-athletics-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 14:32:01 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin K-pop boy band BTS will perform at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium for three days in March next year as part of their comeback tour, with tickets to sell for up to HK$3,299 (US$420) each. The dates for the boy band’s performances in the city were announced by event organiser Live Nation HK on Friday. The shows are part of the group’s “Arirang” world tour, which marks their return to the global stage after all seven members recently completed mandatory military service in South Korea. The band is set... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354540/k-pop-stars-bts-hold-3-concerts-hong-kongs-kai-tak-stadium-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354540/k-pop-stars-bts-hold-3-concerts-hong-kongs-kai-tak-stadium-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 10:15:23 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd will perform two concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in October as part of the final leg of his “After Hours Til Dawn” world tour, confirming an earlier report by the South China Morning Post. The announcement coincides with K-pop act Babymonster’s reveal on Monday that the girl group will perform in the city on January 9 next year at AsiaWorld-Arena, marking the final leg of a regional tour. The Weeknd revealed on Monday that his Hong Kong shows would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353119/weeknd-stage-2-hong-kong-concerts-october-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353119/weeknd-stage-2-hong-kong-concerts-october-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:59:41 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Hong Kong has long prided itself on being a city that knows how to put on a show. Yet the abrupt end to the 25+ Emperor Entertainment Group Family Concert at Kai Tak Stadium last Monday night has raised an awkward question for a city eager to brand itself as a mega-event hub: is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3352832/abrupt-end-kai-tak-concert-tarnishes-hong-kongs-mega-event-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3352832/abrupt-end-kai-tak-concert-tarnishes-hong-kongs-mega-event-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 03:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The successful Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last month, thrilling a record number of fans, is still fresh in the memory. The city’s drive to host an increasing number of top sporting events continues, signalled by the announcement of another landmark event in the summer. This time, the sport is football and the teams that will compete at Kai Tak Stadium in August are among the best Europe has to offer. The second edition of Hong Kong’s football festival, which was first staged at Kai Tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The current discussion on the Kai Tak line is too focused on the mass transit itself – alignment, stations, connectivity. But the real issue is not just the mass transit. It’s what happens around it. As planned, the line will mainly serve local residents. That is useful, but not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3350882/hong-kong-cant-just-build-monorail-kai-tak-and-hope-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3350882/hong-kong-cant-just-build-monorail-kai-tak-and-hope-best?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan A senior Bayern Munich official believes their match against Aston Villa will be “the best” of the trio of games in Hong Kong this summer, and that the six-times European champions could “fill two stadiums” on a good day. The August 7 clash between Bayern, who on Sunday won their 35th Bundesliga title, and Premier League Villa will be the third high-profile fixture in seven days at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. But Rouven Kasper, Bayern’s chief marketing officer, said he “does not worry at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3350923/bayern-munich-pledging-deliver-best-summer-football-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3350923/bayern-munich-pledging-deliver-best-summer-football-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:02:01 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After helping wash away the stain of the infamous Lionel Messi fiasco, the organisers of the returning Hong Kong Football Festival are aiming to establish the event as a permanent fixture on the city’s sporting calendar. Last year’s inaugural festival, staged 18 months after Argentine Messi skulked on the bench while his Inter Miami team played at Hong Kong Stadium, drew a pair of record crowds to Kai Tak Stadium. Ahead of Tuesday’s official launch of the 2026 edition, which will feature... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3350749/football-festival-boss-eyes-hong-kong-sevens-style-boom-dismisses-threat-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/football/article/3350749/football-festival-boss-eyes-hong-kong-sevens-style-boom-dismisses-threat-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan There was no stopping the New Zealand women’s team at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as they dominated and beat Australia to keep their record in Hong Kong intact on Sunday. A 19-14 win at Kai Tak Stadium handed the Black Ferns their fourth Sevens title in the city in as many years, with star player Jorja Miller an integral part of that record. “It’s an amazing accomplishment by our team. To come out here and do it four years in a row is pretty amazing,” she said. “We love playing in an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3350645/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-jorja-miller-four-new-zealand-keep-record-intact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3350645/cathay/hsbc-hong-kong-sevens-jorja-miller-four-new-zealand-keep-record-intact?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:30:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu The Hong Kong Sevens ended in a high-octane finale on Sunday with costume-clad rugby fans filling the stands at Kai Tak Stadium, but some nearby restaurants said they struggled to match last year’s takings, blaming an influx of new rivals for diluting profits. The atmosphere on Super Sunday was electric as a sea of excited spectators, some clad in creative and flamboyant costumes, filled the South Stand, with some experiencing the event for the first time at its 50th anniversary. Over three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:20:28 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong welcomed back its iconic Sevens rugby tournament for a 50th year on Friday, with an opening ceremony featuring robots, K-pop and a light show almost as sparkling as some of the action on the pitch. Not even a hole in the roof of the HK$30 billion Kai Tak Stadium could put a dampener on proceedings, even if the rain that leaked in left some fans running for cover. Even so, the thunderstorms that hovered over the city for much of the afternoon did little to deter spectators generally,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3350541/hong-kong-sevens-heaven-dazzling-display-marks-start-50th-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3350541/hong-kong-sevens-heaven-dazzling-display-marks-start-50th-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:06:53 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s pursuit of top international sports events has gathered pace in recent years. But it is difficult to beat the excitement generated by the Hong Kong Sevens, the iconic rugby tournament born in the city and celebrating its 50th anniversary. Last year, the event became the first major sports competition staged at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium. It was hailed as a success. This weekend, the Sevens will again bring its unique blend of sporting excellence, top-class entertainment and a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3350307/50-years-sevens-hong-kongs-festival-fun-awaits-worlds-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3350307/50-years-sevens-hong-kongs-festival-fun-awaits-worlds-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000