Certain bottles allowed for Coldplay concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium

Fans heading to Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium for British rock band Coldplay’s coming concerts can bring in certain types of bottles, unlike previous practice, but are banned from carrying signs, the organiser has said. Live Nation said fans attending the shows would be allowed to have plastic or silicone reusable bottles, or cups inside, but they must be empty and have a maximum capacity of 600 millilitres (20.3 fluid ounces). Kai Tak Sports Park on Monday clarified that these bottles must also come without lids. Disposable plastic, glass or thermal bottles, as well as those bigger than 600ml, are prohibited. During earlier events and trial runs, many people had to store their bottles on unstaffed racks placed outside the venue, while those who were unaware of the blanket ban held up the queues at security checks. Greenpeace also criticised Kai Tak Sports Park after the three-day Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament generated about 860,000 disposable items. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung previously said the ban on bottles was for security reasons and in line with other major stadiums around the world. Coldplay has pledged to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 per cent compared with its last tour, and committed to reducing emissions across all aspects of its concert logistics. Features introduced include solar panels, kinetic floors and energy-generating stationary bikes that allow fans to power the concert, while the band said it had “carefully planned” its tour to minimise air travel. Fans were also banned from bringing signs and banners, with some concerned it would affect their experience. Coldplay’s concerts usually include a “songbook” segment where fans can request their favourite tunes, usually by holding up signs to draw the attention of the band members. Professional cameras, GoPro cameras, laptops and telescopes are also banned. Children under 12 years or 140cm (4 foot, 7 inches) in height are restricted from entering the standing pen, while those aged below three are not allowed into the concert, according to the organiser. Coldplay will play at Kai Tak Stadium on April 8, 9, 11 and 12 as part of its “Music of the Spheres” world tour. The run will be among the first wave of concerts and events to be held at the 50,000-seat stadium at the new Kai Tak Sports Park. The park said it was thrilled to host Coldplay as the concert marked a major milestone for the venue. Ahead of the concert, a pop-up stall opened on Sunday at Airside Mall with exclusive items and immersive experiences, drawing a long line of fans. The stall, which will be open until April 27, sells Coldplay’s CDs and vinyl records, as well as tour T-shirts, hoodies, headwear, jewellery, bags, tour programmes and concert posters, among other items. Some caterers in the neighbourhood have tapped into the concert economy. Hungry Dragon and Hidden Tiger, a restaurant and bar at Kai Tak Mall, is hosting two events on concert days. For HK$228, fans can enjoy a set menu while gathering and mingling with fellow concertgoers. It has also introduced three Coldplay-themed cocktails named after the band’s greatest hits. The bar, along with some other cafes in Kai Tak, has offered a 10 per cent discount to concert ticket-holders. Local brewery Richkat Craft Brewing has offered one-for-one draught beers at three pubs on Hong Kong Island during the concert period, marketing itself as an after-party venue. To cope with the high volume of concertgoers, transport authorities said they had arranged 11 special bus services between Sung Wong Toi Road and major districts across the city. These include two bus routes to the Lok Ma Chau-San Tin public transport interchange and the local checkpoint on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The MTR Corporation said it would also ramp up its rail services. The service frequency is set to be increased along the Tuen Ma and East Rail lines after each concert, with spare trains put on standby to accommodate any extra demand. Kai Tak Sports Park will also arrange cross-boundary coach services at the stadium’s ground floor pickup and drop-off area, which can be reached by an escalator outside gate H on the second floor. Mainland Chinese concertgoers can use private coach services that run directly to cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhongshan. Checks by the Post found that the tickets for Eternal East bus services departing to Shenzhen North station at 10.30pm on concert dates were running low, with one bus already sold out.

Certain bottles allowed for Coldplay concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium

Empty 600ml plastic or silicone reusable bottles and cups will be allowed inside venue, but handheld signs still prohibited, organiser says

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