Hong Kong considers stadium as temporary venue for bigger tennis tournaments
Hong Kong may use Hong Kong Stadium to host major tennis tournaments while Victoria Park’s centre court is redeveloped, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said. Authorities are studying a larger, all-weather multipurpose venue, with construction potentially beginning before 2030.
Hong Kong is considering using Hong Kong Stadium as an interim venue for major tennis tournaments while the Victoria Park Tennis Centre Court and supporting facilities are redeveloped, the city’s sports minister has said. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said the government could reserve Hong Kong Stadium for tennis during selected periods and install temporary courts and related facilities. The proposal remains under consideration.
Law said the stadium had extensive seating and enough space for a main court, secondary courts and warm-up areas. Adjoining facilities could also be used, she said. The venue would allow the government to pursue larger tournaments while work at Victoria Park was under way.
The government’s recent policy address said it would study rebuilding Victoria Park’s centre court as an all-weather, multipurpose venue. Authorities have previously said they aim to accommodate at least an ATP 500 tournament, which would require about 7,000 seats. A 10,000-seat venue capable of hosting an ATP 1000 event remains an ambition if space and resources permit.
The existing centre court hosts ATP 250 events and has about 3,600 seats. Law said a technical feasibility study was in progress and that she hoped design work could start soon. The government would seek to begin construction during the first five-year plan, which runs to 2030, although she could not specify whether work would begin in three or four years.
The expanded facility would need practice and secondary courts as well as a main court. Officials are also examining how it could operate in different weather conditions and host other sporting events and performances. Law said authorities would try to avoid disturbing Victoria Park’s swimming complex and hard-surface football pitches, though smaller areas behind the current tennis venue might change.
She said a larger city-centre facility could attract visitors and spending to Causeway Bay and northern Hong Kong Island.
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