Hong Kong hitting high notes as fans roll in for Blackpink concerts

Hong Kong could gain about HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) in economic value from K-pop powerhouse Blackpink’s coming concerts at Kai Tak Stadium, with fans of the girl group pouring into the city ahead of the three much-awaited shows.Excited fans splurged on band merchandise on Thursday ahead of the first concert at the weekend, while parts of Kai Tak Sports Park, where the stadium is located, were awash with pink.Hong Kong is the final stop of the four-member band’s “Deadline” global tour that started in South Korea’s Goyang in July last year, with concerts on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the 50,000-seat stadium.Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung, executive director of the Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, estimated that if the shows were sold out, the city could gain as much as HK$195 million in economic value.Fans snap up merchandise ahead of the girl group’s shows in Hong Kong. Photo: Karma Lo“For sectors that can benefit from this event, there will be more business for restaurants and bars at night. If visitors are coming to Hong Kong for more than a night, the hospitality sector will benefit too,” he said.