Organizers report that Vancouver rugby sevens event is 85 per cent sold out

VANCOUVER — The HSBC Canada Sevens slated for Vancouver in March is 85 per cent sold out, according to organizers.

Last year’s debut Canadian stop on the men’s rugby sevens circuit saw 60,418 fans take in the tournament over two days at B.C. Place Stadium. The event sold out the 28,000 lower bowl, with organizers subsequently putting 5,000 upper bowl tickets each day on sale.

Tournament CEO Bill Cooper called the 2016 sales “a tremendous milestone for rugby in Canada, to have achieved that so many months before the tournament (March 11-12).”

Organizers made the 5,000 upper bowl seats available from the get-go this year. That could push attendance to 66,000 over the two days with the possibility of more upper bowl seats being sold if needed.

Cooper, however, said organizers would be watchful that the atmosphere not be diminished by empty seats in the upper bowl.

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“That’s a huge priority for us … The more likely scenario is we stick with 66,000, protect the atmosphere,” he said.

General admission tickets are $99 for the weekend, with single-day tickets available Monday at $55. Premium and reserved seating are sold out.

The Vancouver stop is one of 10 on the World Series, which opens Dec. 2-3 in Dubai.

Fans witnessed 272 tries and 1,694 points scored over two days and 45 games last year at B.C. Place.

The Canadian Press