New Zealand and Argentina made history as the first Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens of the Kai Tak Stadium era came to a close on Sunday, with a mixture of nostalgia, a look to the future and continuing questions over the present. For those of a certain vintage, the fly-past by a Cathay Pacific A350 evoked memories of a time when planes, rather than rugby balls, were landing where players now raced around. And while the HSBC SVNS Series has an uncertain future, Hong Kong only reinforced its place in the sport, even if the operators of its “amazing, incredible, outstanding” new home face an uncomfortable few days. There was history, too, with New Zealand’s women completing another dominant run to their third consecutive title with a 26-19 win over Australia, and Argentina claiming a first crown in the city by beating France 12-7. Black Ferns skipper Sarah Hirini said she hoped her team would be back to a “bigger and better” Sevens next year, although what that might look like is open to debate. World Rugby chiefs are days from releasing a report on the future of a series that has struggled for relevance in places, and there have been rumours that the number of teams and tournaments could be cut. Whatever the issues, there is no danger of Hong Kong losing out, with Brett Robinson, the governing body’s chairman, saying the city staged “one of the great sevens events of the global calendar”. Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu, who presented Argentina with their trophy, said he and his wife, Janet Lam Lai-sim, had a great time “along with tens of thousands of fans”. Officials said 38,352 people had passed through the gates on Sunday, taking the three-day total to about 110,000. Spectators consumed “more than 350,000 food and drink items” and 82,000 litres of beer were sold. But there have been problems, and the operators of Kai Tak Sports Park were again exposed as lacking the experience or wherewithal to stage events of this calibre, primarily when it came to ensuring people could eat and drink. Of the lawmakers and officials who attended the Sevens’ last day, tourism minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui and legislator Michael Tien Puk-sun both commented on the lack of food. Law said she had experienced long delays herself when trying to buy food on Saturday and had told the park to “fix it”, while Tien described the scenes he had witnessed as being “a nightmare for spectators” and “not acceptable”. After three days of hour-long queues, one fan finally lost his temper and blasted staff for the “absolutely ridiculous” situation he found himself in when he got to the front only to be told most food had sold out. Previously, at Hong Kong Stadium, vendors would have staff with boards telling fans what food and drink was still available. No such information was provided at Kai Tak. An Australian in his mid-60s, who gave his first name as Graeme and said he had been attending Sevens tournaments since 1982, called it “very disappointing because the stadium is great, but they can’t get something as basic as the catering right. I hope they get it right next year”. Plenty did go right, from the fly-past – which was seen by many outside the stadium, but only on the screen inside – and the quick-fire set by British rock band Kaiser Chiefs, to the pair of victories for the city’s men and women in the Melrose Claymores competitions, and the fireworks that closed things out at the end. Hong Kong’s men dismantled China 38-5, and the women thumped a Kazakhstan team reduced to six players 45-5. Natasha Olson-Thorne, the women’s co-captain, said it was “so important” for her side to have won at home this week. “Hopefully it inspires younger players to see us out there and be like, ‘I want to do that, I want to be there’, and to inspire them to pick up a pair of rugby boots and join us down the line,” she said.