“For me, this stadium is the home of the Sevens,” said Zwelethu Kala, who spent more than 20 hours travelling from South Africa to attend the tournament for a second time. “Waisale Serevi, William Rydar, Christian Cullen … all those guys made their names here.”

He said he first saw the Hong Kong Stadium on television when he started watching the tournament in 1996 and fell in love with the sport.

That inspired him to travel to other cities, such as Dubai and Los Angeles, to watch Sevens tournaments, but Hong Kong remained special to him because it was where his passion got its start.

“It is like transplanting a tree,” Kala, a 45-year old programmer, said.

“No matter where you move it, you will remember it was right here when you see the old pit.

“I understand it might be a business concern that they decided to move, but personally I feel a bit upset.”

He sported sleeve covers on his arms with the South African flag and said he hoped his country’s team would make history this year.

“Everyone is gonna remember the first and the last winner,” he added.

Three Fijian fans, including Arthor Edwards, arrived at the stadium at around 4.30pm on Friday, decked out in themed clothes and carrying big national flags.

“We know it is going to be the last game in this stadium. That is why we are here to support Fijian players,” said Edwards, who added the venue was like a church and the Sevens a religion to Fijians.

“The Fijian sevens team just got a new head coach and we are excited about the team’s performance tonight,” Edwards said.

City fan Amol Mahajan, a 45-year-old who works in finance, said he was worried the atmosphere would change next year and added the larger Kai Tak stadium had a retractable roof and the neighbourhood was more condensed.

He started watching the Sevens in 2013, a year after he moved to Hong Kong.

“On the loudest night I remember, when you left the Causeway Bay [MTR] station and walked over [to the Hong Kong Stadium] - five minutes later you could hear the screams,” he said.

Julien Arnoux joined Mahajan last year to watch the game live. He was a rugby fan before and watched the Sevens on television.

“Changing the venue can kill an event - I don’t want it to happen to the Sevens,” said Arnoux, who used to live in New Zealand.

He said rugby was a passion there and when the tournament changed locations, it became more family-friendly, with less drinking and partying.

‘Vibrant’ Hong Kong Sevens back to normal, businesses harbour Kai Tak concerns

The Rugby Sevens and the tournament venue have grown together over the years. The first tournament was played in 1976 at the Hong Kong Football Club Stadium.

As its popularity boomed in the 1980s, the tournament moved to the then 28,000-seat Government Stadium, which was in 1994 expanded to what is now the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium.

One famous tradition that has evolved over the years involves fans in the South Stand showing off their creativity by dressing up in silly and comical costumes, usually unrelated to the sport being played on the field.

Michael Goodlet, 67, who attended this year’s match to support his nephew who coaches the New Zealand team, accepted the news of the tournament’s move with reluctance.

“It’s a shame to lose this one,” he said. “The atmosphere is nice and enclosed. The top seats also have a good view.”

Cheung Yuk-yi, a 28-year-old scientific researcher, said that, although the new location would be closer to her home, Hong Kong Stadium held a special meaning for her because it was where she became passionate about the sport.

Wan Chai bar operators expect Kai Tak move next year to hit Sevens business

“I was a volunteer at the 2017 Sevens tournament. It was my first time seeing so many people excited for a sports event,” said Cheung, who came back to watch the game as an audience member at least three times afterwards.

She still remembered the excitement of one final match, when everyone in the audience started doing waves together and cheering loudly.

But she added she believed the atmosphere would be similar, even with the new venue.

Goodlet said he had watched 12 tournaments at the stadium since his first in 1992. “It has got bigger and better,” the businessman said. “My first time, they were playing in mud.”