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Letters | Curfew controversy at snooker World Grand Prix holds event management lessons

Readers discuss fans being ejected before a snooker tournament ended, restrictions on carrying bottles into a venue, and preparing for a trip to Antarctica

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Neil Robertson in action against Stuart Bingham in the finals of the World Grand Prix 2025 held at Kai Tak Arena on March 9. In the first session of the competition, spectators were asked to leave midway through a match because transport services were ending at midnight. Photo: Dickson Lee
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The snooker World Grand Prix was poised to be the first major international event kicking off the “Hong Kong Super March” festivities. However, after the first day, the focus shifted dramatically from the excitement of the tournament to the controversial decision to eject fans from the venue before midnight, casting a shadow over the event.

The tournament was broadcast by networks such as Eurosport, TNT Sports and Discovery+ and the episode gained traction beyond local news. Coverage from UK outlets, including the Mirror, the Express, Metro and The Sun, amplified the story, bringing unwanted attention to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, this was not the kind of spotlight the city needed as it seeks to re-establish itself as a prominent destination for international events.

While it is easy to point fingers, the blame should not rest solely on the shoulders of the operator of Kai Tak Sports Park.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui indicated that the organiser and venue operator were aware that the matches could extend late into the night. She ordered them to allow spectators to stay on till the end of the matches on the remaining days.

Feng Huanhuan, CEO of F-Sports, the event organiser, reportedly claimed ignorance of the venue’s midnight curfew. “Having organised large snooker events in mainland China, where there are no such restrictions, we didn’t anticipate this issue,” Feng has been quoted as saying. But wouldn’t this detail have been included in the terms of the venue contract?

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