Asia Trophy set for Hong Kong return
Manchester City, Tottenham and Sunderland likely to appear next year in popular event as English Premier League sees city as top-value venue
The English Premier League (EPL) Asia Trophy is set to return to Hong Kong next summer, just two years after the showpiece was last staged in the city.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and other league executives were expected to be in town this week to iron out the details, a source close to the deal said yesterday.
Three Premier League sides - defending champions Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland - have been targeted for the two-day event in early August, along with the Hong Kong league champions.
"It's not yet a done deal, but it is very close," said the source. "That's why the EPL is coming to Hong Kong to finalise the details."
One of the areas the EPL party is expected to examine is the availability of training facilities. "The Asia Trophy is part of the pre-season build-up of these teams and they want to be guaranteed top-class training facilities in Hong Kong so their preparations are not adversely affected," the source said.
In July 2011, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers attracted more than 70,000 fans in two days to Hong Kong Stadium, but it was announced at the time the tournament would be staged in other countries in the region before heading back to Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is an attractive place for the Premier League and has got a lot more to offer than some countries," said the source.