Hong Kong’s new 50,000-seat stadium, designed to host major international events, faced significant challenges over the weekend as tens of thousands of rugby fans attended the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Despite the stadium’s grand opening, one major issue dominated the conversation: inadequate food service.
Although the stadium featured numerous food outlets, fans reported slow service, long queues, and frequent shortages of hot meals throughout the three-day event. The lack of preparedness for the high demand left many attendees frustrated. Popular food items such as burgers, tandoori chicken wraps, and char siu sausage rolls were often unavailable, prompting fans to wander through the stadium in search of a meal.
On Saturday morning, the South Stand, known for its rowdy atmosphere, saw some fans waiting up to two hours for drinks at a bar with only one person handling payments. The situation worsened on Sunday, when outdoor stalls offered limited menus, with some food vendors replacing their official offerings with handwritten lists. In other areas, staff were seen processing orders made by guests in corporate boxes rather than addressing regular fan needs.
The food service issues marred what should have been a celebratory occasion for Hong Kong’s new sports hub. The Kai Tak Stadium is the centerpiece of a HK$32 billion ($4.1 billion) sports park, built on the site of the former airport. Designed by global architectural firm Populous, the stadium is a key part of Hong Kong’s efforts to boost tourism, with the Sevens being the city’s largest annual sporting event. Previously held at a smaller stadium on Hong Kong Island, the Sevens’ move to Kai Tak was part of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s strategy to promote tourism and reinvigorate the local economy.
Robyn Arthey, a finance professional and regular Sevens attendee, had hoped to avoid long queues by arriving early but ended up stuck in a two-hour line for drinks. “We thought, with a new stadium and a lot of research on crowd control, it would be well-managed,” said Arthey, who had dressed as a strawberry for the event. “But it wasn’t.” She had expected wait times of about 15 minutes for drinks, similar to those at the old stadium.
Over 110,000 fans attended the Sevens across the weekend, according to World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson. The event, however, highlighted the ongoing challenges Hong Kong faces in rebuilding its international reputation and economy, particularly in the aftermath of the political crackdown, pandemic restrictions, and China’s economic slowdown.
The stadium, operated by Kai Tak Sports Park and majority-owned by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd., has become a symbol of Hong Kong’s recovery efforts. However, the catering debacle raised concerns about its readiness for large-scale events. The group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Long-time Sevens fan Jules Lee experienced the frustration firsthand when, at 5 p.m. on Sunday, she was told the stadium had run out of hot food. After waiting in multiple lines for a hot dog and coming up empty, her husband managed to get the last two hot dogs, but not without causing distress to a nearby child. “This isn’t a problem you’d expect from a big stadium,” said Lee. “The catering was poorly managed, but everything else was superb.”
Even the city’s top sports official, Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism Rosanna Law, was caught in the food shortage. While touring the stadium, Law shared her own experience waiting in line for a hamburger. “I told the venue operators to enhance their food supply services,” she said.
Despite these issues, the event largely proceeded without major disruptions. On Saturday, organizers had to close off entry to the South Stand after frustrated fans attempted to force their way in. Argentina won the men’s competition, defeating France 12-7, while New Zealand triumphed over Australia 26-19 in the women’s final. The tournament also featured performances by DJ Pete Tong and English band Kaiser Chiefs, with a grand fireworks display concluding the event.
The Sevens marked the conclusion of a busy month for Hong Kong’s events scene, which also hosted the HSBC Global Investment Summit, the Bloomberg Family Office Summit, and major art exhibitions at Art Basel and Art Central.
Looking ahead, the stadium will soon be tested again as Coldplay is scheduled to perform four sold-out shows this week. Additionally, Kai Tak will co-host China’s National Games later this year.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, who attended the Sevens with his wife, praised the event’s success, writing on social media, “The first major tournament at the Kai Tak Stadium has successfully ‘scored a try.’”
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