From Runway to World Stage: Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium Makes Its Global Debut

Rugby Sevens Weekend at Kai Tak Stadium Brings Team Spirit and Revelry to Hong Kong

Against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour and beneath Kai Tak Stadium’s sweeping roofline, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens returned in full force this year—louder, livelier, and more momentous than ever before. Held for the first time at the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park, the city’s most iconic sporting event was reimagined in a setting that felt both futuristic and fiercely local: a $4-billion waterfront venue rising from the site of Hong Kong’s legendary Kai Tak airport runway, where jumbo jets once made famously dramatic landings in the heart of the city.

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Kai Tak Sports Park opened its doors to Hong Kong Sevens, marking a powerful milestone while underscoring the city as a sports and entertainment destination. Photo Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The event drew a record-breaking crowd of more than 130,000 fans over three days to Kai Tak Stadium, as 30 international teams competed during a weekend that brought high spirits and energy to the sports park. The South Stand—the tournament’s most uninhibited fan zone, known for extravagant costumes and crowd-wide choreography—returned in full technicolor, while the stadium’s state-of-the-art design elevated every try, tackle, and celebration.

Off the field, the entertainment was just as electric, with a laser-lit opening ceremony, high-energy musical performances, and nightly afterparties at the Fan Village that kept the energy going well past the final whistle.

The Stadium Built to Move a City

Kai Tak Sports Park opened its doors this past year as Hong Kong’s most ambitious venue to date, marking a powerful milestone while underscoring the city as a sports and entertainment destination. Built on the former runway of one of aviation’s most iconic airports, the stadium now serves as the beating heart of a 3-million-square-foot sports and entertainment district designed to redefine how a city moves, celebrates, and comes together for major cultural moments.

Architecturally striking and built for a new generation of fandom, the 50,000-seat stadium balances scale with intimacy—featuring individual-seat cooling technology, over 30 curated dining concepts, one of Asia's longest bars, and the sleek Jin Bo Law Skybar, a stylish Hong Kong offshoot of London's renowned rooftop lounge. A 360-degree seating bowl pulls fans close to the action, while wraparound HD screens, efficient sound proofing, and a fully retractable roof add drama and dimension to every match regardless of weather conditions.

Designed by Populous, the global architecture firm behind some of the world’s most iconic stadiums, Kai Tak captures the spirit of a city in motion. Rooftop gardens with skyline views, waterfront promenades, and open public spaces dissolve the boundaries between venue and city. At its edge, the Dorsett Kai Tak hotel offers sleek accommodations and front-row views of the stadium itself—turning a stay into part of the experience.

That same energy is rippling across Hong Kong. With over 44.5 million visitors in 2024—a 31% year-over-year surge—the city is a top global hub for culture, entertainment, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Sevens Like Never Before

This year’s Hong Kong Sevens remained true to everything that makes it a global favorite—world-class rugby, bold team rivalries, and the legendary energy of the crowd—with the move to Kai Tak giving the tournament a new kind of momentum. From synchronized K-pop cheer squads and crowd-wide singalongs to dazzling pyrotechnics, live performances from world-renowned rock bands and a viral halftime DJ set, the tournament offered moments that echoed far beyond the stadium walls. Among them: a surprise appearance by South Korea’s KIA Tigers cheerleaders, whose famous choreography brought the crowd to its feet and added a pop-cultural punch to an already high-energy weekend.

Social feeds lit up, the stands vibrated with song and celebration, and fans celebrated together rooting for their favorite teams with pride. Argentina triumphed in the men’s competition, beating Olympic champions France with a 12-7 win, while in the women’s finals New Zealand defeated Australia 26-19 and won the tournament for a third time in a row. The tournament, which included performances by DJ Pete Tong and English band Kaiser Chiefs earlier in the day and ended with the awards ceremony closing out the tournament.

Kai Tak Coming Attractions

With Coldplay set to take the stage at Kai Tak Stadium in April, the venue’s future as a global entertainment hub is already well underway. The stadium is slated to host a lineup of major concerts, international sporting events, and large-scale cultural festivals in the months ahead.

For the thousands who filled the stands, and the millions watching around the world, the Sevens wasn’t just a tournament, it was the height of global sport and entertainment.

Learn more at DiscoverHongKong.com and start planning your sports and entertainment trip to Hong Kong.

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