News and media

HSBC CANADA SEVENS SOLD OUT

February 25th, 2016

Organizers welcome Vancouver International Airport and Butchart Gardens to partner family.

VANCOUVER, BC (February 25th, 2016) – The HSBC Canada Sevens organizing committee announced today that the HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver Men’s Rugby Tournament, scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2016 at BC Place Stadium, has reached spectator capacity. Organizers also announced today that the tournament’s partner family has grown further with the recent addition of Vancouver Airport Authority and Butchart Gardens.

“Partners to the HSBC Canada Sevens are playing a huge role in building the tournament, and the sellout would not be possible if it weren’t for them.” says Bill Cooper, CEO of HSBC Canada Sevens. “We have been strongly focused on player and fan experience, and this sell out will help us to deliver on a world class atmosphere for everyone involved.”
The interest in tickets and suites, as well as the support from the Canada Sevens partner family indicate strong interest and excitement for Rugby Sevens in Vancouver. While the majority of ticket inventory has been sold to local BC sports enthusiasts, Canada Sevens organizers also confirmed that ticket sales extended across Canada and to 13 countries around the globe. Organizers point to strong partner support as contributing to the successful delivery of a world class tournament that will see a total of 56,000 spectators over the course of the two day tournament.

“We are pleased to be working with Vancouver Airport Authority to ensure that our 15 visiting teams and thousands of in-bound spectators have the tremendous first impression that Vancouver is so well known for, continued Cooper. “In addition, Butchart Gardens showcases the caliber of visitor experience spectators can plan for while in BC, and have also been a long-term supporter of Rugby Canada and the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens. A huge thank you to Butchart Gardens and Vancouver Airport Authority for joining us in the first year of this tournament.”

“We are thrilled YVR will welcome the world’s best Sevens athletes and fans to the HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver Men’s Rugby Tournament,” said Anne Murray, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Vancouver Airport Authority. “We are proud of our reputation in customer care. With our team of dedicated staff and volunteers, we are ready to create an incredible first and last impression for everyone travelling to the Canada Sevens games.”
“Having Rugby Canada’s high performance centre and team training based in Langford and so intimately connected with Victoria is a huge source our pride for Butchart Gardens and our local community.” Said Dale M. Ryan, Director, Public Relations, Sales and Marketing, The Butchart Gardens. “We have been proud supporters of Rugby Canada for years, and are excited to play a role in the men’s and women’s HSBC Canada Sevens tournaments to help grow the game in Canada and around the world.

The HSBC Canada Sevens Women’s Rugby Tournament will be held in Langford BC on April 16/17, 2016, and is in its second year. The inaugural Canada Sevens Women’s Rugby Tournament in April 2015 was a sell-out and won rave reviews from spectators and players alike.

About Vancouver Airport Authority:
Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Canada’s second busiest airport, YVR served more than 20.3 million passengers in 2015. Fifty-six airlines serve YVR, connecting people and businesses to more than 118 non-stop destinations worldwide. YVR was voted Best Airport in North America for the sixth consecutive year, and Best Airport in the World for its size category of 10-20 million passengers, in the 2015 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Vancouver Airport Authority is a dedicated community partner and in 2015 donated more than $990,000 to local organizations. We are committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of: a premier global gateway, local economic generator and community contributor. For more information, please visitwww.yvr.ca.

About Butchart Gardens:
The Butchart Gardens is an internationally renowned 55-acre (22 hectare) display garden located near Victoria, British Columbia. Created in 1904 by Jennie Butchart, and still privately owned and operated by family descendants, The Gardens has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada and welcomes over one million visitors a year.

About Canada Sevens:
HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver is a two-day indoor rugby sevens tournament, March 12–13, 2016, hosted at the world-class BC Place Stadium, host venue to Canada’s most prestigious events, and will feature 16 of the world’s top men’s sevens teams. The HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver will be the sixth stop in a ten-stop world tour as part of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Sevens rugby, a fast-paced and shorter version of traditional rugby with only seven players per side, has built a huge international audience through the success of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, which attracts large audiences in markets around the world.