Hong Kong Sevens must learn vital lesson from best in the world Vancouver and show patience with Kai Tak Sports Park

As a Canadian, I don’t like to boast much, but sometimes it’s tough.

A World Rugby internal evaluation has my hometown of Vancouver atop the list when it comes to the Sevens Series venue rankings, beating out second-placed Singapore and fifth-placed Hong Kong.

According to an article in Singapore daily The Straits Times, the Canadian stop came out on top, and I’m hardly surprised as someone who has both attended and covered the event.

The ranking is personally fortuitous, given I wrote an article in 2017 for Business in Vancouver titled “Vancouver aspires to be a major player in World Rugby”.

Rugby Canada chief executive officer Allen Vansen declared Hong Kong’s Seven Series “the grandfather” of the tour and something Canada wanted to emulate.

Well, it appears the pupil has usurped the teacher.

Vancouver is no slouch when it comes to sporting events. The city hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, splitting venues between Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler. The event went off without a hitch, notwithstanding a comical cauldron routine that failed to lift into its proper position during the opening ceremonies.

Vancouver also hosted a number of games during the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup, including the final where the United States beat Japan 5-2.

The story of Vancouver’s rise to international sporting and entertainment glory hinges largely on one venue, and may provide some food for thought for Hong Kong citizens and its government officials.

BC Place, situated in the downtown core on the north side of False Creek, was originally built in 1983 and is owned and operated as a crown corporation.

The venue was built for the 1986 Expo World Fair, famous for piquing the interest of Hong Kong property tycoon Li Ka-shing, who bought the land afterwards. At that time it was downtrodden industrial acreage, and now houses some of North America’s most expensive real estate.

In 2007, BC Place seemed to be on its last legs. It was hosting minimal events, and its Teflon Fibreglass roof collapsed that year, becoming the laughing stock of the city.

However, rather than tear the stadium down, a year later the government announced it was going to pony up C$150 million (US$113 million) to revitalise the ageing facility with a new roof and a slew of internal upgrades, completed over two phases.

The public was not happy, and as cost overruns dragged on one media outlet called it a “boondoggle” with a final price tag of C$514 million. When the new BC Place reopened in 2011, there was a blasé reaction: locals had largely forgotten about the stadium altogether. There was a mishap with the retractable roof and a seismic report that sent shivers through government officials to top it all off.

But the new stadium, fancy new facelift and all, was undeniably beautiful. Its crown-like cable-supported beams are now a staple of Vancouver’s iconic skyline. At night, a light show flickers various colours from the rafters over False Creek and can be see as far away as Richmond.

The timing of the upgrade was lucky. Major League Soccer exploded, and the Vancouver Whitecaps had a world-class venue to promote the sport and its accompanying league.

BC Place also started attracting some marquee concerts given its sizeable capacity (54,500 when the upper bowl is open) including Metallica, Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses and U2.

In 2017, it was ranked in the top 10 when it came to North American outdoor stadiums and festival sites, beating out iconic venues such as Seattle’s CenturyLink Field and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.

Officials quickly realised Vancouverites had a taste for large-scale events, and the international sporting world took notice.

In 2015, World Rugby hosted its first Sevens Series tour stop at BC Place, and tickets flew out the window. Locals wasted no time pounding beers dressed in outrageous costumes, and the city’s whip smart hospitality scene responded by opening its arms to locals and tourists.

BC Place is a pitch perfect example of short changing the present for a bright future. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park (where the sevens will move to) will draw negative comments and energy until the day it opens.

But then, there will be a sea change. Have patience Hong Kong, and be willing to stomach cost overruns.

Take it from a Canadian, if you want to keep the sevens tournament from falling into obscurity, be willing to play the long game when it comes to sports venue infrastructure.