Mong Kok Stadium
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2011) |
Flower Market or Fa Hui | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | Mong Kok, Kowloon,  Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Owner | Leisure and Cultural Services Department |
| Operator | Leisure and Cultural Services Department |
| Capacity | 6,664 |
| Field size | 105m X 67m[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1961 |
| Renovated | 2011[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Citizen (2005-) Sun Hei (2011-) | |
Mong Kok Stadium (Chinese: 旺角大球場) is a stadium on Flower Market Road, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong. With capacity of 6,664, the venue hosts Hong Kong First Division League football matches. The stadium is currently run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong.
Facilities
- International Standard Natural Grass Pitch with 1200 Lux Floodlight[1]
- Coloured Display LED scoreboard, 9.28m wide X 5.76m high.[1]
- 6,664 spectator seats[1]
- 1 VIP room (accommodates 32)[1]
- 42 wheelchair seats[1]
- Police Control Tower
- Broadcasting Tower
- 27 parking spaces
- 12 public toilets[1]
- 8 disabled toilets[1]
- 8 entrance turnstiles/ticket counters[1]
- 4 teams' changing rooms
- 2 referees' changing rooms
- 1 VIP room
- 1 disabled washroom
- 1 fast food kiosk
- 1 press room
- 1 baby care room[1]
- 1 anti-doping room[1]
Full house
On 15 April 2007, South China played to a 1-1 draw with Kitchee in the penultimate game of the Hong Kong Football League season at Mongkok Stadium. The game attracted a full house of over 8,500 spectators, the first full house for 11 years for a Hong Kong League game at Mongkok Stadium.
Recent developments
From Autumn 2009, Mongkok Stadium will undergo a series of modifications, including the addition of a roof, close-circuit televisions, refurbishment of the seats, better lighting, refurbishment of the changing rooms, adding a press room and doping rooms, while the stadium's capacity will be reduced to 6,680. The work is expected to be complete by October 2011. [2] Three First Division clubs - Citizen, Fourway Rangers and Sun Hei - have asked to use the stadium as their home ground. But it is believed that the owner of the facility, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, has reservations over the number of clubs using it. Vincent Yuen Man-chuen, general secretary of the HKFA, said they had submitted a proposal to use the stadium as the home ground for three clubs. "We are in the process of negotiation with the government," said Yuen. "There were more than a hundred matches a season held [there] before, but the number can be reduced to half if three teams use it for their home matches plus some major cup competitions."[3] There is currently doubt that the new Mong Kok Stadium will be ready for use in October.[4]
2011 re-opening
On 16 October 2011, the renovated Mong Kok Stadium re-opened. The first match is the 2011-12 Hong Kong First Division League match between Sun Hei and Sham Shui Po SA. 4,499 fans attended the game. Sun Hei won the game 5-0, Sun Hei players Cheng Siu Wai is the first player to score a goal; while Barry is the first player to score a hat-trick at the newly renovated stadium.[5]
2011 Official Re-opening ceremony and internationl football match
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing attended Mong Kok Stadium's official re-opening ceremony. To celebrate the re-opening of the stadium, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department organised a ceremony for 15 November 2011 and invited the Russian National Youth Team for a friendly football match with the Hong Kong Youth Representative Team. A sport towel, a limited edition souvenir specially produced to celebrate the re-opening of the stadium, was distributed to each attendee to make this meaningful day more memorable. There were also performances including rhythmic drumming with flag waving, and wushu and a lion dance, showing a unique Chinese flavour. The ceremony also featured impressive performances by cheering teams and the Hong Kong Police Band.[6]
Asian 5 Nations Rugby Tournament plan
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman Trevor Gregory said he was exploring the possibility of using the stadium to host HSBC Asian Five Nations (A5N) home games. Hong Kong played both their A5N rugby games in front of full houses at the 2,500-capacity Hong Kong Football Club this season. A move to Mong Kok, with its new capacity of 6,650, appeals, admitted HKRFU's Gregory. "Our initial thoughts are to play our international fixtures in the A5N at Mong Kok Stadium. At the moment we have no plans to hold any domestic games there," Gregory said.[7] On 26 May 2012, Hong Kong blitzed Kazakhstan 55-0 to claim third place in the 2012 HSBC Asian Five Nations Top Five competition. It was Hong Kong’s first international in 13 years at the newly renovated Mong Kok Stadium.[8]
Transport
It is accessible from the Prince Edward Station of the MTR on the Tsuen Wan Line and Kwun Tong lines. It is also near Mong Kok East Station on the East Rail Line (former KCR East Rail).
See also
Other sports stadiums and venues in Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong Coliseum (capacity 12,500)
- Hong Kong Stadium (capacity 40,000)
- Happy Valley Racecourse
- Sha Tin Racecourse
- Sha Tin Sports Ground (capacity 5,000)
- Tsing Yi Sports Ground (capacity 2,500)
- Tuen Mun Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground (capacity 2,500)
- Yuen Long Stadium (capacity 5,000)
- Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground (capacity 12,000)
- Hong Kong FC Stadium (capacity 2,750) - used for football and by Hong Kong FC
Gallery
Before renovation
-
Stadium sign -
Police Control Tower and Broadcast Tower -
VIP section -
Electronic Scoreboard -
Bird Garden Entrance -
Flower Market Road Entrance -
Toilet -
Fast Food Kiosk
After renovation
-
Stadium logo -
Screen and Electronic Scoreboard -
Main grandstand -
Grandstand -
Flower Market Road Entrance
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Template:Zh-hk icon新旺角場靚中藏險 Oriental Daily. 15 October 2011.
- ^ Template:Zh-hk icon旺角球場加上蓋減座位 The Sun. 1 August 2008
- ^ Clubs lay claim to revamped Mong Kok South China Morning Post SOCCER Chan Kin-wa Jul 03, 2011
- ^ Template:Zh-hk icon旺角場 10月重開成疑 Apple Daily. 17 August 2011.
- ^ Template:Zh-hk icon旺角場重開 4,499球迷湧入 鄭少偉首球締歷史 Apple Daily. 17 October 2011.
- ^ Mong Kok Stadium celebrates its re-opening with international friendly football match Leisure and Cultural Services Department press release. 15 November 2011.
- ^ Clubs lay claim to revamped Mong Kok South China Morning Post SOCCER Chan Kin-wa Jul 03, 2011
- ^ Hong Kong blitz Kazakhstan, UAE run Korea close in exciting Top 5 finale Asian 5 Nations. 27 May 2012.
External links
- Mong Kok Stadium Transclusion error: {{En}} is only for use in File namespace. Use {{lang-en}} or {{in lang|en}} instead.
- Mong Kok Stadium Transclusion error: {{En}} is only for use in File namespace. Use {{lang-en}} or {{in lang|en}} instead.
- Satellite image of Mong Kong Stadium
22°19′34″N 114°10′22″E / 22.326095°N 114.172904°E
