The Hong Kong Stadium "must add at least 10,000 seats to its present 40,000 capacity if the city is to remain an attractive destination" for major rugby and football events, according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Hong Kong Rugby Football Union President Brian Stevenson "has called on the government for a 'longer-term' solution to remedy the stadium's shortcomings, including improving the state of the pitch and increasing capacity to at least 50,000." A "major worry for the union is that with capacity restricted to 40,000, it stands to lose out on tens of millions of dollars over the next seven years on ticket revenue from the Sevens." Stevenson: "Other cities in the region have stadia with capacities of 50,000 and we will be left behind. They will become more attractive and this could result in us losing events." He added, "Singapore next April will have a 55,000-seater stadium. Nanjing, which hosts the Youth Olympic Games next year, already has a 60,000-seater stadium. We won't be able to match any of these cities until Kai Tak, or rather if Kai Tak, is built" (SCMP, 9/29).
