HONG KONG’s iconic Rugby Sevens weekend will be the first major international event when Kai Tak Sports Park stadium is scheduled to be ready by next March.
The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 will be held for the first time at Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) after with government chiefs eager to see the event as drawing positive international attention on the city.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has been pushing his officials to ensure a series of dry runs to test the stadium’s capabilities. A government committee is also looking into how local infrastructure, particularly transport links, can handle an expected 150,000 people heading to and from KTSP over the three-day event.
The Sevens weekend on March 28-30 will be followed by arena-rock sensations Coldplay playing three nights at the 50,000-seat stadium in April.
For most of its 46-year history, the Sevens was held at a 40,000-seat stadium in So Kon Po, on Hong Kong island, with the 2024 event seen as crucial in raising the city’s profile as it strived to boost international visitor numbers following the Covid downturn.
With 40 per cent of the 2024 event’s spectators arriving from overseas, the annual event offers a lifeline to hotels, F&B outlets, hospitality suppliers, and conference organisers as corporate C-suite teams arrive in town.
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After Hong Kong, China Rugby (HKCR) this week officially announced Kai Tak as the new home for the Sevens, KTSP officials said they had been working closely with HKCR, which organises the event, and relevant government departments to ensure the event would run smoothly.
“As Hong Kong’s home venue, we are truly honoured and excited to host this globally prominent sports event at KTSP,” said John Sharkey, the new sport park”s project director.
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“For Hong Kong, this sporting occasion not only promotes the development of local rugby but also showcases the city’s capability to host world-class events, enhancing its status as a mega events capital.”
Kai Tak Stadium is equipped with a soundproof retractable roof, allowing events to proceed regardless of weather conditions. The venue is also accepting group bookings for major events with options available for event and incentive planners.
Main image: Hong Kong, China’s men’s and women’s team captains join this week’s announcement held at Dorsett Kai Tak Kowloon Hotel – Photos by Ike Li
