It Happened Here: Hong Kong Coliseum opens
One of Hong Kong’s most popular arenas, known colloquially as the “Red Stadium”, was inaugurated on April 27, 1983, in Hung Hom. Ever since, its imposing, inverted pyramid design has caught the eye of concert-goers and passing motorists alike. The unique shape and construction means that a huge column-free space inside provides unobstructed stage views for the 12,500 audience members who pack the arena when it is at full capacity.
The Coliseum’s construction took six years, and it is Hong Kong’s second-largest entertainment venue, after AsiaWorld-Arena. It hosts major sporting events, conventions, pop concerts, and other large-scale entertainment programmes.
At the end of 2008, the Coliseum underwent major renovations and was closed for a few months. The renovations were undertaken in order to shift the arena’s emphasis away from concerts and more towards sports events. Subsequently high-tech scoring display units were installed, the changing room facilities were given a major upgrade, and a doping-control room was built. The renovations were completed by early 2009 so the venue could re-open in time to host the East Asian Games’ basketball and volleyball competitions. The government spent $168.6 million dollars on the revamp – the first since the Coliseum opened in 1983. It’s a legacy well worth preserving.
Jinxin Ma
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