Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium has published a seating chart after concertgoers complained about obstructed views in the newly opened 50,000-capacity venue.
Fans and lawmakers called for more transparency over the stadium’s seating arrangements after shows from Cantopop star Nicholas Tse and British band Coldplay.
Hong Kong’s Consumer Council had reported 17 complaints specifically about obstructed views for the four “Evolution Nic Live” concerts by Tse, adding to more than 230 already lodged from other shows at the venue.
“It would be best if tickets for seats with obstructed views were not put up for sale,” said Johnny Ng Kit-chong, who sits on the culture panel of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, as reported by South China Morning Post.
“[Selling them] is good for neither the performers nor the audience. The most important thing is the protection of consumers.
“They did not expect the tickets they bought would have obstructed views.”
Ng also said that if these tickets had to be sold, they should be cheaper and consumers should be warned of the obstructed views.
Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, also a member of the Legislative Council, states that better communication is needed.
“At the time when the purchases were made, were the customers aware of the obstructions of their views of their seats?” she said, as reported by SCMP.
“It’s not good if they had no idea and only found out when they received their tickets.”
For the Tse performances, the website of ticket sales operator Cityline showed seats with blocked views were market but priced similarly to those without obstructions.
