Business in popular nightlife district Lan Kwai Fong jumped by as much as 30 per cent on Friday evening after day one of the Hong Kong Sevens, industry leaders said, although restaurants near Kai Tak Stadium, the rugby tournament’s new home, have yet to see a big jump in trade. Tycoon Allan Zeman, founder and chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group, said on Saturday that the jump in business was due to the excitement surrounding the newly opened stadium, where the Sevens will run until Sunday evening. “I think there is euphoria,” he said on Saturday. “It is amazing and it is such a great feeling about Hong Kong, where we can’t believe that this is our stadium.” He said trade in Lan Kwai Fong on Friday evening jumped by as much as 30 per cent compared with last year. Zeman said he expected business for the Sevens period to increase by 20 per cent over last year. “I’m very surprised as we were expecting a drop, but it’s been very, very good, so I am not complaining,” he said. In previous years, when the event was held at Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay, rugby fans usually flocked to pubs in Wan Chai or Lan Kwai Fong after matches ended for the day. Most of the fans the Post talked to on Saturday evening after the rugby ended said they were heading to Hong Kong Island to continue partying, except for one who planned to explore the eateries in nearby Kowloon City. Kowloon City restaurants operators said they had yet to see a huge boost in business, with operators hoping authorities could help eateries in the district. The district, nicknamed “Little Thailand”, is home to dozens of Thai restaurants and grocery stores. Hong Kong resident Kenny Chan was among the few heading to Kowloon City for dinner after the rugby on Saturday. The 30-year-old said the nightlife in the area had potential. “If there is a steady stream of competitions and concerts at Kai Tak Stadium, the nightlife in Kowloon City may be better,” he said Samantha Wong, who runs Thai Fat Thai restaurant, said business only rose 2 per cent on Friday evening. “At first, I thought there would be a lot of business because of the Hong Kong Sevens,” she said. “I was here at 7pm on Friday night, but there wasn’t a lot of people … maybe a little bit more than usual.” She said believed spectators might have filled up on food at the stadium and did not want to go elsewhere to eat. Wong said she would wait and see whether the event would bring about more business to her restaurant. Other restaurants taking a wait-and-see approach included Little Thai on the same street, which said business rose by between 20 to 30 per cent on Friday evening, but had yet to see a similar effect during the day. “I think it could have been the effects of the Hong Kong Sevens, so I need to wait and see first,” the operator, surnamed Lam, said. Lillian Lee Cheng Lai-ngor, owner of Golden Hall Dessert, said business was typical for a Friday, at about 80 per cent capacity. “I hoped events at Kai Tak Sports Park would boost our numbers,” she said on Friday. “But it seems visitors aren’t aware of, or don’t consider Kowloon City, which has a lot to offer.” She urged spectators to explore the area, highlighting the convenient 10-minute walk from Sung Wong Toi station. Operators hoped the government could help to promote the area and their eateries, as well as making it easier for visitors to visit. “If the Tourism Board or other associations could help drive traffic here it would be good, as they would be able to reach different types of people,” Little Thai’s Lam said.