Overview
- Organisers reported a record 41,457 fans on Saturday at Kai Tak Stadium, setting a new single-day high for the tournament.
- All three-day passes sold out before play began, with organisers expecting more than 45,000 spectators each day.
- The opening show featured a dragon dance forming the number 50, an eye-dotting ceremony by Sports Minister Rosanna Law and Michael Hooper, robots, K-pop acts, and laser projections.
- City nightlife districts prepared for a surge in business, though several food outlets in the nearby Kai Tak Mall said Saturday sales fell short of hopes.
- World Rugby confirmed Kai Tak will host the WXV Global Series Challenger in September 2026, adding a women’s international event to Hong Kong’s schedule.