Hong Kong Sevens: fans prepare to bid farewell to stadium that hosts biggest party in town

This weekend’s tournament will be the last held at Hong Kong Stadium, with next year’s to be hosted at the new Kai Tak Sports Park

Some fans fear the move may rob the tournament of its freewheeling party vibe, with one calling the stadium the church of the Sevens religion

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The opening ceremony of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay on Friday. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 9:45am, 6 Apr 2024Updated: 5:34pm, 6 Apr 2024

For rugby fans, Hong Kong Stadium is synonymous with the Sevens, and for many others, the stadium is the venue for Hong Kong’s biggest party of the year.

This weekend’s sporting celebration is bittersweet for many fans – it marks the return of a capacity crowd, but the event is also a farewell to the Causeway Bay stadium as home to the annual tournament, which will be held across the harbour at the new Kai Tak Sports Park next year.

Some said they were upset by the move and feared the transplant would kill the vibes created by the event being held within walking distance – or a quick cab ride for others less sure of their footing – of the Wan Chai nightlife hotspot.

“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.”

The tournament will next year be held at the Kai Tak Sports Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

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.