Coldplay's show at Kai Tak Stadium was not just a concert, it was a statement of what the new stadium can bring to the city.
The rockers from Britain brought their "Music of the Spheres" tour to Hong Kong on April 8-12, after a 16-year break. As if fans could not get enough, tickets were sold out quickly that they added an extra show to meet demands.
Could someone think of something better than that if this were not a good start?
Perhaps, the significance is the success was not one-off. It could be viewed as a launchpad for Kai Tak Stadium to be a true world-class stage, making it possible for Hong Kong to claim a spot on the world entertainment map.
The atmosphere on Tuesday evening was unbeatable. The band did not just play but also brought positive energy to the crowds. Not so often did a band preach to save planet Earth while rocking along with fans, right?
The band is proud of their green record, claiming success in cutting their carbon footprint by half with the assistance of solar power and dancing floors that generate electricity when fans bounce to the beat - although it is still a pity that there were no fireworks this time.
On the stage, lead singer Chris Martin chatted messages of love and kindness in Cantonese, and jammed with local star Marife Yau - also known as Marf - of Cantopop girl group Collar.
Fans sang together the 23 songs including The Scientist, Fix You, Viva La Vida, and Yellow. It was like giving the cheering crowd a big hug.
Maybe this is the kind of magic that Kai Tak can be expected to generate. The concert wowed with crisp sound and visual impacts on a massive stage. For instance, when they played Yellow, the wristband given to fans turned yellow as paper stars came down.
The stadium was big enough to set up a B-stage in the middle of the concert floor, connected to the main stage by a walkway. It was no comparison to the band's last show in Hong Kong 16 years ago at the Asia World-Expo.
Kai Tak has got the space - 50,000 seats - and technology that older venues like the Hong Kong Stadium cannot rival. Being one of Asia's largest venues, it is perfect for blockbuster shows.
The city may declare it no longer needs Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga to pack the space, even though Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Hong Kong's culture, sports and tourism minister, would not mind their appearance here if they did.
Coldplay has shown that bands can draw big crowds locally and from the region. If Hong Kong Stadium had been subject to noise complaints from residents around it, the Kai Tak Stadium does not face this problem.
Better still, the night concluded smooth with extra trains and buses. When fans left the venue, Coldplay music was still around, which was an arrangement by the police. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-Ming, who oversaw the order at the exit, said music was played to give fans a sense of fulfilment and their joyfulness brought by the concert could last.
With such a perfect venue, more events can be staged to draw in visitors. Why not some annual music festivals on the lines of Glastonbury, Reading and Montreux Jazz Festival.
Fans are attracted to these cities every year with heavyweight line-ups while allowing young local musicians to perform at the same time.
There is a handful of takeaways for the stadium management and government officials, though. If Coldplay's concert showed what works, it has also shown what may work better.
First, eco theme as advocated by Coldplay can be echoed by the venue and future artists who perform at Kai Tak. Second, not everyone has the money for pricey tickets. Can more be done to allow people from different walks of life to join? Also, fans missed the signature fireworks, so, could this get sorted if regulations permit?
