Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park to begin trial matches in 50,000-seat stadium in January

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park will begin holding trial matches at its 50,000-seat main stadium in January, as authorities step up drills at smaller facilities at the venue, including doubling the number of expected spectators .

An international rugby match between Hong Kong, China and Brazil will take place at the 5,000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Saturday, with authorities expecting 3,000 people to attend the ticketed match.

“We will gradually increase the intensity and scale of the trials, increasing the number of participants each time,” said George Tsoi Kin-pan, commissioner for sports.

Tsoi also said officials would hold several tryouts in December, including a basketball game, and expand the tryouts to an indoor site at the park.

In January, trials will take place for the 50,000-seat stadium, the park’s flagship facility with a retractable roof, Tsoi added without revealing what events would take place.

Concerns have been raised over the soon-to-open Kai Tak Sports Park’s ability to accommodate and disperse large crowds, with construction work still underway around the area.