Packed stadium 'shows potential for football boom'
A massive fan-designed poster was unveiled before kickoff. Photo: RTHK
A sports professor at Baptist University is urging the government to build on the success of Tuesday night's match at Kai Tak Stadium, which saw the Hong Kong, China, team make its debut at the new venue in front of more than 42,000 fans.
The qualifying match for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 ended with the local team edging India in a 1-0 win.
The outpouring of support was not only seen in the spectator stands, but also at the nearby Kai Tak Mall, where 300 SAR team kits were quickly sold out.
Professor Patrick Lau from the Department of Sports and Health Sciences at Baptist University said the sold-out match was a testament to strong local fan support for the SAR squad and hinted at an excellent opportunity to promote the team.
He said the government should focus on ways to strengthen the sport's identity.
"With the strong team support by the fans, it will boost up the product extension," Lau said.
"For example, yesterday, almost all the jerseys for the Hong Kong team were sold out immediately, well before the match started.
"So I think we need to produce our Hong Kong team logos, our Hong Kong team songs."
Additionally, Lau suggested building a museum dedicated to football in the SAR to introduce the sport's glorious history to a new generation of fans.
"When we look back and track back our Hong Kong soccer team record, [it] is brilliant," he said.
"So I think a very strong sport identity in soccer should be built through the introduction of the soccer museum.
"It will help to further strengthen the background for the soccer industry in Hong Kong."
Lawmaker Vincent Cheng, also vice chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, urged the government to promote the "home ground economy" and the "fan culture economy".
He told an RTHK radio programme that he also attended the match.
Cheng said the atmosphere was very good with many spectators supporting the Hong Kong, China, team, and described the spectacle as "a sea of red".
"This represents a different audience demographic compared to past events – whether it's Coldplay, Rugby Sevens or Nicholas Tse's concerts," he said.
"These are new spectators, fans who support local sports.
"I believe we should fully seize this opportunity to energise these supporters, partners and sponsors.
"Moving forward, leveraging this momentum to better develop our 'home ground economy' and 'fan culture economy' will be a crucial task."
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