Noise police push Hong Kong Sevens kick-off concert indoors – and there’ll be no Red Red Wine while you watch UB40
Hong Kong Rugby Union switches venue for show from outside the Indian Recreation Club in So Kon Po to Queen Elizabeth Stadium, with booze banned from concert area
UB40 will headline the Hong Kong Sevens kick-off concert on April 5 – but you won’t be able to drink your “Red Red Wine” while you’re watching the legendary British reggae pop group.
Noise complaints from last year’s show in So Kon Po have forced organisers the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) into changing venue to Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, with drinks only allowed in the lobby and not the concert area.
“The noise issue has prevented us from having the concert at the Indian Recreation Club,” said Rocky Chow Sze-ho, chief commercial officer at the HKRU.
“Staying in compliance [by] finding a suitable venue to cater for the size of the kick-off concert, Queen Elizabeth Stadium became a pretty decent choice.”
Iconic British band Madness had got the ball rolling on a raucous Sevens weekend in front of thousands last year at the Sevens Village opposite Hong Kong Stadium.
The Hong Kong Sevens website says no drinks will be available to purchase at Queen Elizabeth Stadium for this year’s concert, which is listed as a “private show”, and that all drinks must be bought as part of a ticket package.
Concertgoers can redeem drinks tokens free of charge, but no alcohol is allowed in the concert hall area and no alcoholic drink sales will be available at the venue.
General admission tickets are priced at HK$288 including two drinks tokens, with options including Carlsberg beer and Scared Hill wine.
A Premium ticket with four drinks tokens will set you back HK$488, while a VIP ticket – including a free-flow drinks package – costs HK$888.
UB40 topped the UK singles chart three times between 1983 and 1993 with Red Red Wine, I got You Babe and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You.
The reggae pop band has sold 70 million records, and will release their new album, A Real Labour of Love, on March 2.
The 2016 kick-off concert was headlined by Scottish band The Proclaimers, with David Hasselhoff hosting the show.
