AI Perspective (The following content is generated by AI, for reference only)

In February of this year, the 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong Marathon kicked off at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center.

In the golden autumn season of Shenzhen, the passion for sports and consumer vitality collide to create dazzling sparks.

Two major events, the China Masters Badminton Tournament and the Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament, are in full swing in Shenzhen. Entering the venues, the stands are packed with spectators, and cheers rise and fall, with an enthusiastic atmosphere that hits you immediately. This sports extravaganza not only offers top-tier competitive feasts for sports enthusiasts but also serves as a vivid snapshot of Shenzhen’s burgeoning sports consumption vitality and the effectiveness of its event-driven city marketing practices—from the soaring sales of event-related sports gear to the doubling of orders for dining and hotels around the venues, to the rise of short-term „spectating + tourism“ travel热潮, all demonstrating the powerful pull of sports events on urban consumption. Behind this lies Shenzhen’s multi-dimensional strategy to promote sports consumption. Shenzhen is fully committed to building a highly dynamic sports consumption ecosystem, making sports a key force in driving urban economic growth and enhancing residents‘ quality of life.

„Events + Culture“

Driving Integrated Cultural, Tourism, and Sports Consumption热潮

Major events have always been the „engine“ to activate sports consumption. In Shenzhen, this engine also drives the deep integration of culture, tourism, and sports, forming a unique consumption热潮. The ongoing China Masters Badminton Tournament and Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament are the best proof. Halfway through the competitions, both events have attracted large现场观赛人数, with considerable ticket revenue already generated. Among them, 35% of the spectators are from out of town, and about 80% of these out-of-town spectators choose to stay in Shenzhen for 2 to 3 days.

Chen Wenzhou, a badminton enthusiast from Chengdu, is one of them. He planned a full week of „Shenzhen family tour“ around the week of spectating. In addition to watching the games these days, he also took his family to Happy Valley for fun, went shopping at Mixc World, and tasted特色美食 like Chaoshan beef hotpot. „We get to watch top-level competitions and let the family experience Shenzhen’s urban charm—this trip is perfect.“ Chen Wenzhou’s experience is shared by many out-of-town spectators.

It’s not just these two events; Shenzhen has hosted numerous international events in recent years, including this year’s Table Tennis Asia Cup, Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship, Men’s and Women’s Basketball Asia Cup, U20 Men’s Football Asia Cup, and more. These international events continuously drive协同增长 in cultural, tourism, and sports consumption.

More notably, Shenzhen is not content with merely leveraging events to boost consumption but excels at deeply integrating events with culture, creating unique „events + culture“ experiences.

During the Table Tennis Asia Cup, the Shenzhen Universiade Central Square adjacent to the venue was transformed into an Asia Cup Park, featuring an official licensed merchandise area, intangible cultural heritage handcraft zone, and park market. Fans could also make漆扇,凸版画拓印, and more… It is reported that during the event’s opening, single-day foot traffic exceeded 50,000人次, directly boosting comprehensive commercial consumption around the Universiade Center. This consumption model not only expands the events‘ influence but also makes Shenzhen’s city image more立体鲜活, injecting lasting consumption momentum into the urban economy.

In March of this year, the Spartan Race 2025 season opener was held at Bijia Mountain Park.

Over 200特色场馆 Leading Sports Consumption’s „Diversified Fission“

If major events are the „ignition point“ for sports consumption, then unique sports venues become the „cornerstone“ supporting the sustained prosperity of the consumption market.

In the past, traditional sports venues mostly focused on „venue rentals,“ with单一项目 and固化玩法, hardly meeting citizens‘ diverse sports needs. Now, however,

Shenzhen Bay Sports Center

The Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, also known as the „Spring Cocoon,“ is a major multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue that opened in 2011. It was a key venue for the 2011 Summer Universiade and is renowned for its unique design, where a massive steel lattice structure envelops the stadium, arena, and swimming hall. Today, it serves as a central hub for sports events, concerts, and public recreation in the city.

Happy Valley

Happy Valley is a historic horse racing track and entertainment venue in Hong Kong, which first opened in 1846 to serve the British colonial community. It is one of the oldest racecourses in the world and remains a major social and sporting hub, famously illuminated by its vibrant night races.

Mixc World

Mixc World is a major Chinese shopping mall and lifestyle complex developed by China Resources Land, first opened in Shenzhen in 2004. It combines high-end retail, dining, and entertainment venues into a single integrated destination. The brand has since expanded to numerous major cities across China, becoming a prominent symbol of modern urban consumer culture and luxury.

Universiade Central Square

Universiade Central Square is a major public square in Shenzhen, China, built as the central venue for the 2011 Summer Universiade (World University Games). It is most famous for its „Stainless Steel Moon“ sculpture, a massive, hollow, polished structure that has become an iconic city landmark. The square and its surrounding sports facilities were constructed to showcase Shenzhen’s modernity and capacity for hosting large international events.

Asia Cup Park

Asia Cup Park is a modern recreational area in Busan, South Korea, originally developed for the 2002 Busan Asian Games (also known as the Asia Cup). It was built on a former landfill site and transformed into a public green space featuring sports facilities, walking trails, and sculptures. Today, it serves as a popular urban park for leisure and community activities.

Bijia Mountain Park

Bijia Mountain Park is a scenic coastal park located in Yingkou, China, known for its unique landform that resembles a writing brush holder (Bijia). Historically, it is a natural island that becomes a peninsula during low tide, allowing visitors to walk to it, and it features a famous lighthouse built in 1936. The park offers stunning views and is a popular destination for its natural beauty and geological interest.