LOCAL rugby union officials were maintaining a brave front at the end of yesterday's second public sale of tickets for this year's Credit Suisse First Boston Hong Kong Sevens.
Just under 2,000 adult tickets were sold at the Hong Kong Stadium, leaving the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) holding a balance of 3,000 tickets. There was no restriction on the number of tickets an individual could buy yesterday.
'We sold something like 1,986 adult tickets yesterday plus another 190-odd children tickets. We have nearly 3,000 adult tickets left,' said Dave Roberts, HKRFU commercial manager.
Only 3,000 tickets were sold at the first sale last Sunday. The HKRFU had allocated 8,000 adult tickets, priced at $750 each, to the Hong Kong public this year.
Roberts remained optimistic that by the time the Hong Kong Sevens comes around - March 26-28 - the remaining tickets would be snapped up.
'We are doing slightly better than at this same time last year. I'm confident that we will be able to sell these tickets,' said Roberts.