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Patrick Blennerhassett

Waitress Lalaine Early, who has been working at Frites Belgium on Tap in Causeway Bay for more than two years, knows exactly what to expect when the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens blasts off on Friday.
“Oh yeah, lots of drunk people, but we know how to deal with them.”
Early said it’s a fun weekend regardless, as patrons start streaming in on Friday all the way through to Sunday. “We enjoy it, they’re good, for the most part. They just want beer.”
Frites manager Mark Bolea said business doubles during the tournament and they have to bring in extra staff from other locations to help out.
Located on Haven Street, Frites is just one of many businesses within the blast radius of Hong Kong Stadium which feed off the Sevens frenzy during the three-day extravaganza.
Market research from the 2017 tournament showed an overall economic impact of HK$380 million for the city, largely due to overseas visitors, who make up more than half of the crowd.
Bolea said Sevens patrons are “in and out”, meaning they come in for a quick bite to eat, a beer and then head back to the stadium, and are mostly well behaved. He said Sunday is definitely the most busy and raucous day.

Danny Chan, the manager at Brick Lane Restaurant on Leighton Road, said business jumps about 20 per cent during the tournament. His eatery is well prepared for the fans through experience.
“We have a Sevens combo, a burger and a beer, so they seem to like that. That keeps them happy,” he said.
Some new establishments, like the No Boundary Restaurant & Bar on Haven Street, have yet to experience a Sevens tournament. Owner Ivan Lam said they opened in September, and will be prepping with extra staff, possibly some deals and extended hours during the tournament. However, he said he is still at the mercy of the tournament and its fans.
“I have no idea what to expect, to be honest. I really don’t know what’s coming, but we will be here and ready for it.”

John Palis, the bar manager at Inn Side Out restaurant and pub, which has a partial view of the stadium, said business jumps about 20 per cent, much like Brick Lane.
Inn Side Out, which used to be located where the new Lee Gardens Three development sits, was once one of the city’s busiest areas during the tournament, Palis said.
Hong Kong Sevens: Gwen Stefani headlines entertainment but fans in stadium won’t get a glimpse
Now that they have moved to the South China Athletic Association Building on Caroline Hill Road, closer to the stadium but hidden off the main road, Palis said things have calmed down, but are still “chaotic” during the tournament.
“I think they like to come here and eat the food and have a few beers because I’ve heard the food isn’t that good at the stadium.”

He said the sevens fans are usually fairly well behaved, albeit drunk. “They’re good, I think they just like having a break from the noise.”
Although he’s been working in the city for 27 years, Palis admits he’s never partaken in any Sevens madness.
“That’s one of my goals one day, after I quit this job, to go see the Hong Kong Sevens.”
Hong Kong Sevens hoping fans embrace 250,000 reusable ‘stack cups’ to cut down on waste
Each day during the tournament 40,000 fans descend upon Hong Kong Stadium, which is located on Eastern Hospital Road, So Kon Po. According to Open Rice, there are more than 1,200 restaurants in surrounding Causeway Bay alone.




The report also estimates that each overseas visitor spends about HK$19,000 on local businesses during their stay, which includes hotels, taxis, restaurants, entertainment, shopping and booze.
Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive officer Robbie McRobbie said there is an intriguing point about all these rugby tourists.
“The interesting thing is we don’t sell over half of our tickets to overseas – they may have received them through friends and family of people who live or play rugby in Hong Kong.”


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Hong Kong Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens: Causeway Bay bars and pubs brace for drunken rugby storm

Hong Kong Stadium’s overspill during the Sevens is a boon for local pubs and eateries. Photo: Benjamin Sieur

Lalaine Early.

Danny Chan.

John Palis.

Hong Kong Sevens 2019: watch the 10 best Sevens TV commercials of all-time

Sebastien Chabal, dressed as a French maid, acting as a human alarm clock. Bravo to the Marriott International Asia-Pacific for pulling off this commercial. Photo: YouTube

Hong Kong Sevens: Gwen Stefani headlines entertainment but fans in stadium won’t get a glimpse

Gwen Stefani plays at Central Harbourfront on Friday. Photo: TNS

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Lee Thompson of British band Madness perform at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2017 rugby tournament, on April 08, 2017. 08APR17 [R7] SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** British band Madness performs at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2017 rugby tournament, on April 08, 2017. 08APR17 [R7] SCMP / K.Y. Cheng

The Proclaimers at the Hong Kong Sevens Kick-off Concert at the Sevens Village in So Kon Po. 06APR16 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens


Market research puts the economic impact of the 2017 Hong Kong Sevens at HK$380 million
Local pubs and restaurants see a substantial boost in customers during the tournament



More than half of the Sevens fans are tourists and pour millions of dollars into the city’s economy


Hong Kong Sevens: Causeway Bay bars and pubs brace for drunken rugby storm

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Market research puts the economic impact of the 2017 Hong Kong Sevens at HK$380 million Local pubs and restaurants see a substantial boost in customers during the tournament

Market research puts the economic impact of the 2017 Hong Kong Sevens at HK$380 million

Local pubs and restaurants see a substantial boost in customers during the tournament