Hong Kong Sevens hits 50 but fans more focused on ticket prices for ‘just an ordinary week’
This year’s tournament, from April 17 to 19, marks the start of the new HSBC SVNS World Championship, featuring 30 teams playing 72 matches
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens celebrates its 50th birthday next month, although there appears to be little excitement in the city as the tournament approaches.
Rather than being ready to mark the special occasion, fans and businesses the South China Morning Post spoke to were more inclined to treat it as “just an ordinary week”, while bemoaning the rise in ticket prices.
A first rise in prices since 2018 has taken the cost of a three-day ticket to HK$2,250 for adults and HK$1,100 for children aged 12 and under.
Single-day tickets went on sale on November 11 via a third-party vendor, ranging from HK$550 to HK$1,250 for adults and HK$300 to HK$625 for children aged 3-12. At present, the only single day that has sold out is the adult ticket on Sunday.
Organisers have promised a “bigger, louder and a whole lot rowdier” event, and managers of bars and clubs in Wan Chai are expecting it to be their busiest week of the year, even though the Sevens has moved across the harbour to Kai Tak Stadium.
“I love it, but not enough to justify the price of the ticket as I cannot go for the whole weekend,” said Carlo Speranza, who has lived in Hong Kong for nearly 30 years and works in hospitality.