English Premier League clubs may skip Hong Kong in 2023 after quoting HK$39 million to visit
- Sources say the asking prices of Premier League teams, driven up by competition from other destinations, have scared off clubs in Hong Kong
- The city’s champions Kitchee are instead planning a regional tournament in July that could involve teams from South Korea and Thailand
English Premier League teams are unlikely to visit Hong Kong for preseason matches this summer after the city balked at the fees they requested, which were far higher than those they were paid in the past.
Sources in Hong Kong said they were being quoted figures as high as HK$39 million (US$5 million) to invite a top Premier League (EPL) club to town this year.
That is likely to deter local stakeholders from proceeding, despite the football community being eager to secure the return of overseas clubs and the city’s desire to signal its reopening after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
One leading club official in Hong Kong described the asking price of teams such as Manchester United and Liverpool as “unbelievable”.
“The figure has gone up by a very large amount since we last invited Manchester City here four years ago, and it will be too much for the clubs to afford,” said Ken Ng Kin, president of newly crowned domestic champions Kitchee.
“We made some inquiries after the government lifted social distancing measures and were, to be honest, scared by the figure.
“We even failed to break even for the Manchester City game with government support, and it will be too risky to do it again with a much bigger figure this time.”
For City’s visit to play a friendly match in 2019, Kitchee secured HK$10 million in support from the government’s Major Sports Events Committee, but the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium was only half-full – albeit that that summer’s social unrest may have been a factor.
“These days, the United States and Southeast Asian countries are willing to pay the money, and Australia, which has become another favourite place for these top EPL teams in preseason,” Ng said.
“That’s why the prices have gone up quickly. In Hong Kong, we may need some time to digest these new figures before we can start inviting EPL teams again.”
Comment has been requested from Hong Kong Stadium regarding how much the city can afford to pay.
Other than Manchester City, Kitchee have also hosted EPL clubs including Tottenham Hotspur in 2017, Manchester United in 2013 and Arsenal in 2012.
Two decades ago, after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak hit Hong Kong, Liverpool – featuring Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey – came to the city in July to play in the Invest Hong Kong Football Challenge 2003. A month later, Real Madrid brought stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Raul and Roberto Carlos during their Asian tour.
When the Premier League Asia Trophy took place in Hong Kong in 2017, featuring Liverpool, Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City, it was run by the EPL, which collected the revenue except payments of 20 per cent of the gate receipts to the stadium and an undisclosed amount to the Hong Kong Football Assocation.
Having secured a spot in the main draw of the AFC Champions League by winning the Hong Kong Premier League last Sunday, Kitchee are planning friendlies as part of their build-up. Those may now need to be against teams from the region.
“If we invite an EPL team, it will probably be an exhibition match for the fans to watch those star players,” Ng said. “But our target will be the Champions League and we plan to invite teams that can help our preparations.”
It is believed that Kitchee have targeted teams from South Korea’s K League and the Thailand Super League, with a tournament planned for July.
The Champions League main round will begin in September. The two other Hong Kong representatives, Lee Man and BC Rangers, will have to start in the playoff round, slated for August.
Kitchee reached the knockout stage of the regional cup tournament last year, the first team from Hong Kong to do so, but were eliminated by BG Pathum United of Thailand, who won their round-of-16 encounter 4-0.
