KTSP arranges shuttle buses for snooker enthusiasts as matches extend beyond midnight

Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) provided four shuttle buses as transportation for fans on the second day of the World Grand Prix snooker tournament after the matches extended past midnight.

The improvement measures were implemented after criticism from spectators who were forced to leave the Kai Tak Arena before the conclusion of a match on Day 1 of the tournament.

The match between Chinese player Si Jiahui and Iranian player Hossein Vafaei stretched into the early hours on Thursday, finishing at 1.20am with around 200 spectators still in attendance as the game wrapped up. 

The Park informed spectators at 11.30pm that they could catch a shuttle to Mong Kok at the pick-up area near the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground after the match.

Snooker enthusiast Pang praised the steps taken by KTSP to improve the overall experience, particularly noting that the free shuttle buses to Mong Kok have made it much easier for fans to head home after the event. 

Another fan, Kim, mentioned that he appreciated how the screens in the arena kept reminding spectators about the availability of shuttle buses.

The incident that occurred on Day 1 is understood to have primarily resulted from a miscommunication between the event organizer and the venue, which led to the audience being instructed to leave during the game. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui described the incident as “highly unsatisfactory.”

In response, the government intervened promptly, urging the organizers to develop a compensation plan and to ensure that spectators attending the remaining events would have the opportunity to view the entirety of each performance.