Chief Executive (CE) Ho Iat Seng has said that the government hopes to convert the former racetrack of the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) into a multifunctional venue, but rejected the possibility that the land will be used for the construction of casinos or residential buildings, local media outlets report.
During a Legislative Assembly Q&A session yesterday, Ho said the racetrack was handed over to the authorities on 1 April, but a decision over the exact use of the land had yet to be made.
The CE mentioned the possibility of a sports and entertainment site with facilities such as an ice skating rink. The project, however, is not expected to launch for some time, as the government intends to first invite development proposals and gather public feedback.
[See more: Macao’s horse racing era draws to a close as the curtain falls on the Macau Jockey Club]
In the meantime, Ho said that the government was aiming to find, by the end of this year, a temporary outdoor concert venue that can accommodate as many as 50,000 people. “We are committed to developing this plan,” he said.
During the Q&A session, Ho also fielded a question from lawmaker Chan Chak Mo regarding the government’s goal of turning Macao into a “City of Sports.”
The CE said that the SAR will be staging roughly 20 large scale sporting events this year, an increase from the 17 that were organised by the government and other organisations last year. Ultimately, Ho said he hopes the city can reach an average of two events per month or 24 per year, a figure that he noted would not be easily attainable.
