Forty-thousand fans flocked to watch Arsenal play in Hong Kong this summer. Now it’s the turn of the Manchester United hordes after the government agreed on Tuesday to help foot the bill for an exhibition game against Hong Kong champions Kitchee next July.
Hosted by the Kitchee Foundation, the exhibition match will take place at Hong Kong Stadium thanks to the Mega Events Fund handing over HK$8 million.
The government said the event would be expected to attract 40,000 spectators, a full house at the So Kon Po venue, including 8,000 tourists.
The organisers should have no trouble filling the stadium after fans clamoured to buy tickets for Arsenal’s match against Kitchee in July, the stadium selling out within weeks.
Ken Ng Kin, chairman of the foundation and team boss of First Division champions Kitchee, said they had yet to reach a deal with Manchester United, but it is believed the government injection would seal the deal.
A source said Kitchee had intended to bring Manchester United to Hong Kong this summer, but a reported appearance fee of US$2 million scared off the domestic champions.