80,691 Fans Watch USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament

 

The 2017 USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament set attendance records of 80,691 during the three-day event at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

 

Nineteen countries, 28 international rugby teams, including 12 new international women’s teams competed in 79 matches during the tournament.

 

Daily crowds of 18,633, 35,901 and 26,157 attended the event. NBC and NBCSN broadcast the event live reaching more than 400 million homes in 147 countries, according to organizers.

 

“We continue to see record breaking attendance every year of the tournament, which is a clear indication that rugby is one of the fastest growing sports globally, but also nationally as well,” said Jonathan First, president of the United World Sports. “When we first brought the event to Las Vegas in 2010, we attracted 36,000 fans and now we have more than 80,000 come out to support their countries and teams over the three-day period.”

 

Rugby Sevens debut in the 2016 Rio Olympics impacted growth of the sport, and the addition of the women’s teams, First said he expects attendance records will be broken for more years.

 

In addition to the tournament, fans also participated in the International Beer, Wine & Food Festival with 46 global food vendors providing an international experience. TENORS OF ROCK, Harrah’s Las Vegas headliners performed to more than 20,000 on the final day of the event.

 

The tournament is expected to return to Las Vegas in March 2018.