sport.wikisort.org - Stadium

Hong Kong Stadium is the main sports venue of Hong Kong. Redeveloped from the old Government Stadium, it reopened as Hong Kong Stadium in March 1994. It has a maximum seating capacity of 40,000, including 18,260 at the main level, 3,173 at executive level, 18,510 upper-level seats and 57 seats for wheelchair users.

Hong Kong Stadium

埔頭 Po Tau
Hong Kong Stadium as seen from Eastern Hospital Road in November 2012
Former names	Government Stadium
Location	55 Eastern Hospital Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Coordinates	22°16′25.9″N 114°11′19.4″E
Public transit	Causeway Bay station
Owner	Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Operator	Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Capacity	40,000[1]
Field size	105 by 68 metres (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	1953; 69 years ago (1953)
Renovated	1994; 28 years ago (1994)
Construction cost	US$85.1 million
Architect	HOK Sport[2]
Tenants
Hong Kong national football team Pegasus (2015–2018, 2019–2020) Eastern (2018–2019) South China Tigers

Hong Kong Stadium
Traditional Chinese	香港大球場
Simplified Chinese	香港大球场
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Dàqiúcháng Wade–Giles Hsiangkang Tach'iuch'ang Yale Romanization Syānggǎng Dàchyóucháng IPA [ɕjáŋkàŋ tâtɕʰjǒʊʈʂʰǎŋ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hēunggóng Daaihkàuhchèuhng Jyutping Hoeng1gong2 Daai6kau4coeng4 IPA [hœ́ːŋkɔ̌ːŋ tàːikʰɐ̏utsʰœ̏ːŋ]
Hong Kong Government Stadium
Traditional Chinese	香港政府大球場
Simplified Chinese	香港政府大球场
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Zhèngfǔ Dàqiúcháng Wade–Giles Hsiangkang Chengfu Tach'iuch'ang Yale Romanization Syānggǎng Jèngfǔ Dàchyóucháng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Hēunggóng Jingfú Daaihkàuhchèuhng Jyutping Hoeng1gong2 Zing3fu2 Daai6kau4coeng4 IPA [hœ́ːŋkɔ̌ːŋ tɕɪ̄ŋfûː tàːikʰɐ̏utsʰœ̏ːŋ]
nickname
Traditional Chinese	埔頭
Simplified Chinese	埔头
Literal meaning	Head of the port
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Pǔ Tóu Wade–Giles P'u T'ou Yale Romanization Pǔ Tóu Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Boutàuh Jyutping Bou3tau4 IPA [pōu tʰɐ̏u]

The stadium is located in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, in valley of Caroline Hill. Most international football matches held in Hong Kong are held at this stadium. It is also the location for the Hong Kong Sevens rugby sevens tournament. Hong Kong Stadium also hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice, in 1997 and 2005.

History

So Kon Po was formerly the burial ground for the 1918 fire at Happy Valley Racecourse. Then the Hong Kong Government moved all the tombs to Aberdeen. The old Government Stadium was a U-shaped constructed by 1953 and had a capacity of 28,000[3] with partially covered seating.

The old Government Stadium was only partially covered, without sufficient seats or lighting systems. In the 90s, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club proposed a reconstruction plan so that Hong Kong can have a world class sports stadium.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, 39,000[4] people attended the first Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between Australia and New Zealand. In 2010, 26,210[5] people attended the second Bledisloe Cup rugby union game at the Hong Kong Stadium.

1994 Re-construction and Wembley International

In the early 1990s, the Government Stadium was reconstructed into a 40,000-seat rectangular stadium. No running track was built due to the restricted land size. This forced the schools to look for alternative venues.

The stadium's management contract was won by Wembley International, a foreign subsidiary of Wembley Stadium, against strong competition, in March 1994.

From the first day there have been serious problems with the pitch. The owners of the stadium, the Urban Council, were disappointed.[6] It came under fire from local football officials, sports promoters and even Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who said, before the exhibition match between Manchester United and South China AA on 20 July 1997, "The pitch is cutting up. The surface is just sand-based and the turf doesn't hold well. Injuries can occur."[7]

The government had hoped that the stadium could be used as a music concert venue in order to bring in more rental income. But nearby citizens complained endlessly about 'noise levels', leading to restrictions on noise levels that effectively rendered the stadium unsuitable for concerts. This reduced greatly the income levels of the stadium and the management company, Wembley, ran into financial troubles.

1998 Hong Kong government takeover

Wembley's management tenure at the stadium was abruptly terminated by the Provisional Urban Council (PUC) on 26 May 1998. PUC also asked Urban Services Department (USD) to assume temporary management of the Hong Kong Stadium and has also agreed to USD's proposals to returf the entire pitch of the Hong Kong Stadium.[8] The fundamental issue between the parties was the care and maintenance of the stadium pitch, but also a complaint about an unauthorized bungy jump by Canadian Paul G. Boyle.

In the end, the Hong Kong government was judged to have wrongfully terminated the management agreement and had to pay over HK$20million in damages to Wembley Plc.[9]

Hong Kong Stadium is now managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, after the Urban Council was disbanded.

Football

Hong Kong First Division League

South China and Kitchee had used the sports ground as the home stadium in 2009–10 season.[10]

Starting from 2010–11 season, only South China use the Hong Kong Stadium as their home stadium.

Lunar New Year Cup

The ground has hosted matches of the Lunar New Year Cup.

Full house

The first full house official football match (i.e. non-exhibition match) at the Hong Kong Stadium was the 2009 AFC Cup semi-final second leg between South China AA and Kuwait SC.[11] This was added to in the same year by the 2009 East Asian Games football final between Hong Kong U23 and Japan U23. Although there were empty seats in the stadium, all tickets were sold or distributed.[12]

Kitchee vs Manchester City

On 24 July 2019, the Hong Kong Stadium held a club friendly match between Premier League champions Manchester City and Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee. where Manchester City won 6–1.[13]

Rugby

On 1 November 2008, the ground became the first stadium outside of Australia or New Zealand to host a match of the Bledisloe Cup,^{[citation needed]} a rugby competition between Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand won the match, 19–14.

On 1 June 2013, the British and Irish Lions and Barbarian F.C. played a rugby union match at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes

The ground has hosted matches of the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes since 1996 to 1997.

2009 East Asian Games

The stadium was used as the final venue for both the Rugby 7s and Football tournaments of the 2009 East Asian Games. Hong Kong's rugby 7s team and football team both made the final against Japan. The rugby 7s team finished second to Japan. While the football team defeated them in front of over 31,000 spectators, including Donald Tsang, winning the Hong Kong football team's first ever international title.

2013 muddy turf fiasco

In 2013, during the Barclays Asia Trophy, Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio described the pitch as "a killer", while Manchester City centre-back Matija Nastasić is injured on the mudheap pitch, although Nastasić's injury was caused by a kick to the ankle according to City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who refused to blame the muddy pitch. Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas was also critical of the pitch after Jan Vertonghen, a first-choice Spurs defender, incurred an ankle injury playing on the surface. "If I can be sincere, I would prefer not to play, but this is the reality that we have to face," said the Portuguese on the eve of his side's friendly against South China AA.[14] Manchester United then cancelled their public training session at the stadium on Sunday amid concerns over the playing surface, did not want to further damage the playing surface or risk any injuries to their players, ahead of their exhibition match with Kitchee SC on 29 July.[15]

On 30 July, the director of leisure and cultural services, Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee said returfing the much-criticised Hong Kong Stadium pitch is being considered, after football fans worldwide slammed the sodden, muddy surface during Barclays Asia Trophy matches on 24 and 27 July. South China FC chairman Steven Lo said in an official blog that recent matches have exposed a serious management problem. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he has asked the Home Affairs Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for short, medium and long-term remedies.[16]

In 2015, with support from the Jockey Club, the pitch was completely returfed. The existing turf and soil was removed, the irrigation and drainage systems replaced, and new turf laid.[17]

Non-sports events

Jean-Michel Jarre held a concert at the Hong Kong Stadium on 11 March 1994. It was the first event after the re-construction of the Hong Kong Stadium.

Alan Tam held a concert at the Hong Kong Stadium from 22 to 24 April 1994. It was the first local artist held here.

The only time the venue is used for live events is the Extravaganza of China Olympic Gold Medallists celebration show for the Chinese gold medallists.[18]

Bon Jovi played a concert at the stadium on 25 September 1993 during I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Tour. It was their first concert in Hong Kong.

Canadian Paul G. Boyle illegally bungy jumped from the roof of the Hong Kong Stadium on the morning of Friday 24 May 1996. He was not arrested but was given a lifetime ban from all Urban Council facilities.[19]

Future

At the 2013 Policy Address, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said once the Kai Tak Stadium is operational in 2019, the Hong Kong Stadium will be turned into a 10,000 capacity district sports arena.[20]

Facilities

Hong Kong Stadium can accommodate 40,000. The spread is as below:

• 18,256 at Main level
• 18,507 at Upper levels
• 3,153 at Executive levels
• 57 wheelchair spaces

In addition, there are many refreshment kiosks inside the stadium.

Other use

The stadium was supposed to be a multi purpose entertainment and sports venue, due to its much greater capacity compared to the other popular and over used Hong Kong Coliseum, where nearly all uses are now strictly for popular entertainment. However, its open-air nature has led to noise complaints from residents in tower blocks surrounding the stadium. It has not been allowed to host entertainment events since 1999.

Gallery

• 
  Steel frame that supports the canopy
• 
  East Grandstand
• 
  Walkway at the Grandstand
• 
  Memorial plaque
• 
  lawn
• 
  ceremony
• 
  2009
• 
  2007, Barclays Asia Trophy
• 
  2006

See also

• Hong Kong Premier League
• List of national stadiums

References

External links

• Official homepage (in English)
• Picture of old Government Stadium and Hong Kong Stadium

Events and tenants
Preceded by None	AFC Asian Cup Venue 1956	Succeeded by Hyochang Stadium Seoul
Preceded by None	AFC Women's Championship Final Venue 1975	Succeeded by Taipei Municipal Stadium Taipei
Preceded by Corporation Stadium Calicut	AFC Women's Championship Final Venue 1981	Succeeded by National Stadium Bangkok
Preceded by Hong Kong Football Club Stadium	Hong Kong Sevens Venue 1982–	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh	Rugby World Cup Sevens Venue 1997	Succeeded by Estadio José María Minella Mar del Plata
Preceded by Stadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur	Asian Club Championship Final Venue 1998	Succeeded by Azadi Stadium Tehran
Preceded by Estadio José María Minella Mar del Plata	Rugby World Cup Sevens Venue 2005	Succeeded by The Sevens Dubai
Preceded by Rajamangala Stadium Bangkok	Premier League Asia Trophy Venue 2007	Succeeded by Workers Stadium Beijing
Preceded by Estádio Campo Desportivo Macau	East Asian Games Football tournament Final Venue 2009	Succeeded by Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium Tianjin

На других языках

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[de] Hong Kong Stadium

Das Hong Kong Stadium, kurz HKS (chinesisch 香港大球場 / .mw-parser-output .Hans{font-size:110%}香港大球场, Pinyin Xiānggǎng Dà Qiúchǎng, Jyutping Hoeng1gong2 Daai6 Kau4coeng4; kurz 大球場 / 大球场, Dà Qiúchǎng, Jyutping Daai6 Kau4coeng4, ugs. 埔頭 / 埔头, Pǔtóu, Jyutping Bou3tau4) ist ein Stadion in Hongkong, das im Stadtteil Wan Chai auf Hong Kong Island liegt. Das 58.500 m² große Mehrzweckstadion bietet Platz für 40.000 Zuschauer und ist zugleich das größte Fußballstadion der Stadt.[1][2] Es ist die Heimstätte der Herrenfußballnationalmannschaft von Hongkong und beheimatet zugleich (Stand 2018/19) die Heimspiele des Eastern AA in der Hong Kong Premier League.

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- [en] Hong Kong Stadium

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[es] Estadio Hong Kong

El Hong Kong Stadium, conocido popularmente como So Kon Po Stadium, es un estadio multiusos de Hong Kong. El estadio fue inaugurado en 1953 como Government Stadium, pero fue reconstruido en marzo de 1994, cuando adoptó su nombre actual. Tiene una capacidad máxima de 40 000 espectadores, todos ellos sentados, de los que 18 257 son en el anillo principal, 3153 en la zona ejecutiva, 18 507 en el anillo superior y 57 asientos para discapacitados.

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[fr] Stade de Hong Kong

Le stade de Hong Kong (en chinois : 香港大球場 ou 香港政府大球場, Hong Kong Stadium) est le principal stade de sport de Hong Kong. Bâti à partir de l'ancien Government Stadium, il est situé à So Kon Po, sur l'île de Hong Kong, près de Causeway Bay. Il a été rouvert en tant que Hong Kong Stadium en 1994. Il a une capacité de 40 000 places, dont 18 240 au niveau principal, 3 153 places en loges, 18 559 au niveau supérieur et 48 places pour personnes en fauteuil roulant.

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[ru] Гонконг (стадион)

«Гонко́нг» (англ. Hong Kong Stadium, кит. трад. 香港大球場, упр. 香港大球场, пиньинь Xiānggǎng Dàqiúcháng) — мультиспортивный стадион в Гонконге, вмещающий 40 тысяч зрителей. До перестройки был известен как Правительственный стадион. В период с 1992 по 1994 годы был реконструирован, вследствие чего вместимость увеличилась с 28 тысяч до нынешнего показателя. Арена расположена в районе Хэппи-Вэлли, неподалёку от одноимённого ипподрома. На стадионе регулярно проводит свои матчи сборная Гонконга по футболу и клуб «Гонконг Пегасус». Кроме того, здесь проходит один из этапов Мировой серии по регби-7 и множество других международных спортивных соревнований разного уровня. В разные годы на «Гонконге» прошёл ряд концертов — Bon Jovi в 1993, благотворительный Концерт 1:99[en] в 2003 году, направленный на сбор средств для помощи больным SARS, и другие[5]

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