Kai Tak Stadium – stadium description

What is the Kai Tak Stadium like in a nutshell?

After the closure of Kai Tak Airport in 1998, which was located in the most densely populated area of Hong Kong, new ways were sought to develop the site of the former airport. One of the ideas was to build modern sports facilities.

Thus was born the idea of the Kai Tak Sports Park, the main element of which was to be a large and modern stadium, designed mainly for football and rugby matches, as well as for large cultural events.

The project was prepared by the renowned studio Populous. Construction began in April 2019, and the grand opening took place on March 1, 2025. The cost of the entire complex was nearly HK$30 billion, making the project one of the most expensive investments in sports infrastructure in the world.

The main stadium's design is reminiscent of the “Pearl of the Orient”, as Hong Kong is sometimes called. A distinguishing feature of the facility is its unique facade consisting of some 27,000 aluminum panels that shimmer in various colors. The southern facade is glazed, creating an impressive “window” overlooking Victoria Harbour.

The stadium is equipped with modern technological solutions, including a retractable roof. With a capacity of 50,000 spectators, it is the largest in Hong Kong, serving as a representative venue and an informal national stadium for the autonomous region.

How was Kai Tak Stadium created?

<h4>How did the idea to build Kai Tak Sports Park come about?In July 1998, with the opening of a new airport on Chek Lap Kok Island, the old Kai Tak Airport, located in Kowloon – Hong Kong's most densely populated area – was closed. Before the closure, it was one of the busiest airports in the world.

The airport was famous for its spectacular, but also dangerous landing, which was very challenging for pilots. Planes that approached to land from the northwest had to make a sharp right turn and fly very low over the buildings.

After the old airport was closed, a dilemma arose as to how to develop the attractively located site. A large part of it was intended to be used for the construction of residential buildings, as well as commercial facilities, but from the very beginning it was also assumed that new sports facilities would be built here.

After a feasibility study was prepared, a preliminary framework for the future investment, called Kai Tak Sports Park, was created. Its centerpiece was to be a large and modern stadium, which was to surpass the existing Hong Kong Stadium in many aspects and become the most important sports facility in Hong Kong.

How did the construction of the Kai Tak Sports Park come about?

In early 2013, the authorities invited private parties to submit early, non-committal expressions of interest to participate in the Kai Tak Sports Park project (40 submissions were received at the time). On June 23, 2017, the Hong Kong government approved financing for the development, which was estimated to cost HK$31.9 billion.

Also in 2017, a tender was issued for the design, construction and subsequent management of the complex. Of the six initial submissions, three entities were invited to the final phase. In August 2018, the submission process was closed, and two consortiums entered the final competition.

On December 28, 2018, the results of the tender were announced – the 25-year concession was awarded to Kai Tak Sports Park Ltd, formed by New World Development and NWS Holdings. This company submitted a concept for the “Pearl of the Orient”, developed by Populous.

The losing bidder was the consortium led by Guangzhou R&F Properties, which, in partnership with Foster + Partners, proposed a design for a stadium with a pitch that slides to the outside.

The Kai Tak Stadium design can be seen on a separate subpage

When was the Kai Tak Sports Park built?

Hip Hing Construction became the main contractor, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 23, 2019. The project was to be completed by June 2023, and there were high financial penalties to be imposed in case of any delays.

The construction cost of the entire complex eventually reached HK$29.993 billion ($3.86 billion). This makes the project one of the most expensive sports infrastructure investments in the world, although it must be taken into account that this is the cost of the entire complex, which also included the construction of a large shopping and entertainment center.

Despite threats of heavy penalties, construction was significantly prolonged and the complex was not ready for use until late 2024/early 2025. However, the delays were largely influenced by the global situation, including the COVID-19 pandemic, so penalties were waived for the contractor.

A report on the construction of Kai Tak Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

When was the Kai Tak Sports Park inaugurated?

A series of test events were held at the facilities of the new Kai Tak Sports Park between October 2024 and February 2025. The first event at the athletics stadium took place on October 27, 2024 (a football game), and at the indoor arena on December 20, 2024 (a concert). The first event at the main stadium was the charity concert FOUR in LOVE 萬人CHARITY LIVE 2025, held on January 18, 2025.

The official opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park took place on March 1, 2025. The ceremony was held at the main stadium, and the event was attended by 33,600 spectators. The program included artistic and sports performances, musical performances and light shows.

What does the Kai Tak Stadium look like?

Hong Kong is sometimes referred to as the “Pearl of the Orient”, so the new, representative stadium in the heart of the former British colony was designed in such a way that its appearance refers to this nickname. This is expressed by its oval-shaped body and remarkable, shining facade.

The unusual facade is something that gives the venue its unique character and sets it apart from many other stadiums. It consists of some 27,000 triangular aluminum panels covered with Fluropon coatings, thanks to which it shimmers in various colors and has self-cleaning attributes. At night, the facade can be illuminated to create eye-catching animations.

On the south side, the aluminum panels on the facade give way to glass, thus creating a huge “window” that opens onto Victoria Bay. To make the window visible inside the stadium, the stand behind the south end of the field has no upper floor.

Another spectacular solution used in the stadium is the retractable roof, whose structure is set on giant trusses. The operation of opening or closing it takes about 30 minutes. The full closure of the arena protects not only from the rain, but also from the excessive noise emitted to the outside.

Except for the south side, the stands are two- tiered, with an additional narrow balcony in the middle, and have a total capacity of 50,000 spectators. The main stand with additional boxes is located on the west side. Inside, the facility has a rectangular layout, convenient for football and rugby matches.

The south stand is equipped with four movable segments in its lower part, which can be hydraulically lifted up, providing additional space, for example, for setting up a stage. Inside the stadium, there are two large video screens, and the facility is also equipped with a number of solutions in line with the ideas of sustainable development.

One of the highlights is a 100-meter-long (almost the entire length of the field) bar, dubbed “THE CHAMPION”, which is located inside the east stand.

What purpose does Kai Tak Stadium serve?

The stadium serves as the main, representative facility for Hong Kong and is de facto something like a national stadium for the autonomous region, which has its own national teams in rugby or football.

The facility is especially suited for rugby and football matches, as well as large cultural events with a particular focus on music concerts.

Among other things, the stadium is expected to host the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament. In November 2025, the venue will also be one of the venues for the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China, to be held in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau.

What is located in the surroundings of Kai Tak Stadium?

The stadium is the centerpiece of the entire complex (Kai Tak Sports Park), which covers an area of 28 hectares. It also includes a smaller stadium with an athletics track and stands for 5,000 people (known as the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground) and an arena capable of holding 10,000 spectators (Kai Tak Arena).

The arena is connected to a large shopping and entertainment center (Kai Tak Mall), enhanced by a glass passage. The mall includes renowned restaurants, as well as a climbing wall and a bowling center with 40 lanes.

The main buildings of the complex are connected by a partially covered Central Square. More open spaces are available around the buildings, enriched with greenery and small architecture.

Where is the Kai Tak Sports Park located?

The complex is located in the northwestern part of the former Kai Tak Airport, in Kowloon, the most densely populated area of Hong Kong. The facilities can be reached by the Tuen Ma line of the Hong Kong's rapid transit network (MTR), and the station closest to Kai Tak Stadium is Sung Wong Toi.