This should be the BEST Hong Kong game in recent years.
As someone who insisted Hong Kong Stadium would be sufficient, here are what impressed me about this new stadium.
HKFA unprecedentedly created and organised this tifo show in just a week as a "house-warming gift" for Kai Tak Stadium. A 2-minute spectacle but long enough to make an impact, and history.
1. Capacity & seating layout. It is indeed 10K more than the old landmark. Doesn't mean much but combined with this contemporary stadium design, it is visually enticing, and in the closed circular area, the chant travels throughout the stadium, making it really a 'home' stadium with great atmosphere.
2. Air conditioned and retractable stadium roof. This should be the #1 point. Who wants to walk up to Caroline Hill Road in the sweating summer/frosty winter and sit amongst the humid summer breeze /rain/ cold winter front for 2 hours?? Kai Tak eliminates the outdoor element and the uphill road, and brings you the air-conditioned comfy environment. Sorry Kai Tak, you are indeed needed.
3. Lighting system. Do you know for someone who is used to watching football in Mongkok and So Kon Po, the shock he has when the stadium suddenly blacks out, followed by a series of lightning? It really is something else.
4. Even at the upper levels, you won't feel too far from the pitch, hence your engagement won't be isolated.
Looking up from the main level (2/F)
5. The Sports Park itself. Just a few minutes walk from the stadium exit, Kai Tak Shopping Malls are there with restaurants available. When there is an event, the F&B will close later so after the game say quitting stadium at 10:15pm, you'll find Cafe de Coral, Sam Gore, Pizza Hut, KFC, Grove... Many are available within 5 minutes' walk. If you want to go for a pint and chat, it's available nearby too.
The security check is now more serious. Not that metal detector is used (except for concerts), but the bag search is stricter than HK Stadium's. (PS: It gets slightly loosened after 2 games, iPad can be brought inside, sensibly)
Just that the floors aren't interconnected, which means if you get a 2/F ticket and your friend gets 5/F, you both can't meet during half time, until full time outside the stadium. Your choice of food and beverage is also limited by your seat location.
The away fans got some good seats this time behind the goal, but that's also the last time. Now the away section is allocated to one area up on 5/F.
(Dear Google, please don't force wrapping my words around the image, you can't be this dumb can you?)
The AV system should be better than HKS, still leaves some room for improvement, especially if you are going live and none of the screen is showing the performance, just the audio, where should I look? (PS: It is improved, still the camera angle is limited by the wire, but you can have a cameraman holding the camera?)
And the game... Say we'll remember the late Stefan Pereira's penalty very fondly.
Whatever happened in Kai Tak stays in Kai Tak (except for the match result).
I have multiple stock photos of Kai Tak Stadium & Sports Park available on Shutterstock and Alamy, feel free to have a look if needed.
I have multiple stock photos of Kai Tak Stadium & Sports Park available on Shutterstock and Alamy, feel free to have a look if needed.
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