Fans 'snookered by pricey seats' views'

The Hong Kong Snooker All-Star Challenge kicked off yesterday at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, but fans were once again let down by poor arrangements.

Some fans were fuming due to the poor view they had from the most expensive seats and a nearly one-hour delay.

This disappointment comes after a previous letdown in February when Lionel Messi sat out an exhibition match between Inter Miami and a selection of Hong Kong Premier League players, leaving 38,000 fans disappointed at Hong Kong Stadium.

On the first day of the three-day snooker tournament, enthusiasts flocked to the Wan Chai stadium to witness the showdown between Ronnie O'Sullivan, also known as "The Rocket," and Mark Williams, referred to as "The Welsh Potting Machine."

The match was scheduled to start at 1 pm, but fans were left waiting in the heat before being allowed to enter at 1.08 pm.

Unlike the Hong Kong Masters organized by the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Association in 2022, this exhibition series was organized by a commercial organization called Beyond Borders Sports.

Ticket prices ranged from HK$880 to HK$3,380. However, to the dismay of spectators, several rows of the most expensive seats were positioned at the same level as the snooker table, resulting in audiences struggling to watch the match due to the angle or taller people sitting ahead of them.

Some spectators were even unable to see the table while sitting in the first row as their view was entirely blocked by cameras and staff. As a result, many voiced their grievances.

The organizers acted swiftly to address the concerns by allowing audiences to choose their own seats in the almost-empty arena and promising a refund of the price difference in tickets.

One disgruntled fan, Leung, who had purchased the most expensive ticket, described the organizer's arrangement as "chaotic."

"The organizer constantly changed and disorganized arrangements. We were still waiting downstairs at 1 pm, the supposed starting time of the match," he said.

"The seats were not labeled, and workers had to stick seat numbers on them."

Another dissatisfied fan, Lau, who paid HK$3,380 to watch O'Sullivan play, expressed disappointment with the viewing angle. "I bought a cheaper ticket to the Hong Kong Masters two years ago, and the view was even better," Lau said.