Hong Kong’s World Cup fever wins over young football fans, shoppers but bars still sidelined despite Covid relaxations
- Malls soak up atmosphere and dollars, with some that broadcast matches recording more than 20 per cent uptick in business for the month-long spectacle
- Football schools hope ‘buzz’ generated translates into greater interest in the game locally
Hong Kong’s football enthusiasts turned out in droves to watch a nail-biting World Cup final on Sunday night, packing shopping malls and bars, many of which were almost at full capacity.
The month-long tournament has also helped to raise the profile of the sport among the city’s younger residents, according to some industry organisations.
Central Market, a newly revamped retail and dining hub, recorded at least 25,000 patrons on Sunday, and more than 2,000 of them stayed until the early hours of Monday morning to watch Argentina beat France, venue management Chinachem Group said.
Retail sales at the market also increased more than 20 per cent during the World Cup, which ran from November 20 to December 18, compared with the four weeks leading up to the tournament.
Meanwhile, another 1,000 people, including many young families, gathered at Kwun Tong’s APM shopping mall to watch the match. Some fans had lined up at the mall’s 3,000 square foot arena for two hours before the game.
