A new era of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens began at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, winning plaudits from players and supporters alike and with organisers hailing “an exciting new chapter in the tournament’s storied history”. With 90 per cent of the 47,000 tickets sold, officials said 33,735 fans passed through the gates on the first day, estimating that was around 5,000 more compared with recent years. And those supporters were not only dazzled by a three-minute light show during the opening ceremony, they got some sparkling rugby too. But on a day when most things appeared to run smoothly, a lack of taxis, and concession stands inside the stadium running out of food, suggested test events earlier in the year had not been stressful enough. There was a general feeling of confusion at the area set aside for taxis and ride-sharing services, with police blocking access to private vehicles and drivers unsure of how to get to the pick-up point. “For an event of this size, on the quietest night, it is very unacceptable because tomorrow [Saturday], it will be worse,” a local, who only identified himself as Patrick, said. That experience was in stark contrast to the MTR, which had put on late trains to ensure fans were able to leave long after the last game had ended. Not part of the elite HSBC SVNS Series, the city’s men and women are playing in their own Melrose Claymores competition this weekend, and a blistering 31-7 win for the former over their Chinese counterparts followed a 29-14 triumph for the women over Kazakhstan. There was noise aplenty for both results, and the same was true for China’s women, the only one of the local teams playing in the top tier. After a 45-0 loss to New Zealand, Wang Manyu said it had been “like playing at home”. “It was an honour to finally open the Kai Tak Stadium both for the people who have played such an integral part in building that history – the fans – and for the city that supports us,” Chris Brooke, the Hong Kong China Rugby chairman, said. “As always, these fans turned up in huge numbers, from across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, as well as from all over the world, and they have helped get the party started. The atmosphere has been electric and this will only build from now as the weekend plays out.” Among a host of first-time visitors were Australians Ian Crossley and Justin Barrett, who said they had been watching rugby for 30-plus years and were effusive in their praise for the city’s HK$30 billion new venue. “It is a fantastic stadium, they need to build stuff like this in Australia with the closed roof, very modern, great stadium,” Crossley said. “It’s better than what we see in Australia.” Local businesses were benefiting too, and Dorsett Hospitality, which runs the new Dorsett Kai Tak next to Kai Tak Sports Park, said it expected a full house throughout the mega-events period of the Sevens and Art Basel over on Hong Kong Island, which both take place this weekend. It said there was an “increase in long-haul travellers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe, as they have a strong interest in these mega-events”. Many of those travellers were expected to spend more than the average visitor, and Andrew Potts, who was staying at the Dorsett with his family, spent HK$1,500 in the merchandise tent alone. The 56-year-old engineer, who lives in Bali, was no stranger to the Post, having been featured on the front page when attending the Sevens in 1993. On a day of firsts, Fancy Bermudez grabbed a piece of history, scoring the first two tries at the Sevens’ new home in Canada’s 24-17 win over Japan. “Hong Kong is one of my favourite stops ever, so I’m super-grateful that I was able to do that,” Bermudez said. “It’s cool that Canada get to be the ones to call that piece of history ours.”