Skip to content
Toggle menu
SportsTravel SportsTravel

Breaking News, Podcasts and Analysis Serving People who Organize, Manage and Host Sports Events

Primary Menu
  • News
    • Hosts & Suppliers
    • Recently Awarded
    • Sports Organizations
    • Sports Venues
    • Sponsors & Media
  • IN DEPTH
    • Feature Story
    • On Assignment
    • Perspectives
    • Technology in Sports
  • Podcasts
  • Sports
    • CATEGORY
      • Amateur Sports
      • Youth Sports
      • Collegiate Sports
      • Professional Sports
      • Olympic Sports
      • Paralympic Sports
      • National Governing Body
      • Adaptive Sports
      • Sustainability
      • Water Sports
      • Winter Sports
      • Women’s Sports
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Bowling
      • Cycling
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Gymnastics
      • Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Motorsports
      • Pickleball
      • Rugby
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
      • Volleyball
      • Wrestling
  • Esports
    • Esports News
    • Esports Guide
    • EsportsTravel Summit
  • Resources
    • Bid Bowl
      • Bid Bowl Listings
      • Submission Form
        • About Bid Bowl
    • Destination Spotlight
    • Destination Guides
    • Downloadable Guides
    • Venue Guides
    • Media Kit
      • Media Kit
      • 2022 Editorial Calendar
    • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • EVENTS
    • TEAMS CONFERENCE & EXPO
    • EsportsTravel Summit
    • SportsTravel Road Trip
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram


Home > Rugby > Rugby Sevens Ready to Put Roots in Los Angeles

Rugby Sevens Ready to Put Roots in Los Angeles

Event at Dignity Health Sports Park gives early preview of 2028 Games

Posted On : February 19, 2020 By : Matt Traub
HSBC New Zealand Sevens 2020 – Men’s
USA's Ben Pinkelman fends off the Wales defense on day two of the HSBC New Zealand Sevens 2020 men's competition at FMG Stadium Waikato on 26 January, 2020 in Hamilton, New Zealand. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

With participation on the rise and its status as an Olympic sport secure, rugby is looking to expand its brand as the LA Sevens brings the up-tempo, fan-friendly rugby sevens format to Los Angeles.

Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, will host 16 national teams in a two-day event February 29–March 1 that features the version of rugby that has seven players from both teams playing in seven-minute halves, allowing for dozens of games to be played in one day.

Related Stories

  • 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Schedule Announced
  • 2023 Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals Moved to Aviva Stadium
  • USA Rugby Awarded 2031 Rugby World Cup,
    2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup
  • Ross Young and Jim Brown: Bringing the Rugby World Cup to the United States
  • President Joe Biden Expresses Support for USA Rugby World Cup bid

“It’s a real easy way to pick up the game and see the game and it’s perfect for the American attention span,” AEG Rugby Director Dan Lyle said.

The sport also is coming of age in the United States, with the men’s national team having won the past two sevens events held on home soil. Both the men’s and women’s teams are ranked in the top six in this year’s HSBC World standings. The Los Angeles event, part of the HSBC Sevens Series, had spent the previous 10 years in Las Vegas before the decision was made to move to Southern California.

“The USA is at the heart of the success story and their teams have made very strong progress in recent years with both men and women finishing runners-up in the 2019 series,” said World Rugby Chief Executive Officer Brett Gosper in a release. “We look forward to working closely with Los Angeles, a future Olympic host city, as rugby sevens continues to win new fans and go from strength to strength.”

USA’s Perry Baker breaks through the New Zealand defense for a try on day one of the HSBC New Zealand Sevens 2020 men’s competition at FMG Stadium Waikato on January 25, 2020, in Hamilton, New Zealand. Mike Lee/KLC for World Rugby

That Los Angeles will host the event eight years ahead of the Olympic Summer Games is not a coincidence. Hosting now at what will be the rugby sevens venue for the 2028 Games is part of the plan to get into the market with plenty of time to establish roots. “We’re giving a lot of people a snapshot both organizationally and functionally of what they’ll see,” Lyle said. “That was part of the reason that we made the move with all the improvements to an already pretty fantastic venue and ability to navigate L.A.”

Being in Carson is also a return to the event’s roots. The inaugural USA Sevens was held at the venue in 2004 and stayed there for three years before moving to San Diego in 2007. From there, the event went to an older venue—Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas—in 2010, where it stayed for a decade. But with Allegiant Stadium rising on the Las Vegas Strip, making Sam Boyd Stadium’s future uncertain, the opportunity arose to move the event to the Los Angeles area.

“There was a potential story to be told with the L.A. Olympics,” Lyle said. “Dignity Health Sports Park is the venue for the Olympic Games, it’s a more international audience, and in the 13 years since it’s been in L.A., the growth of rugby is exponential. The sponsors—HSBC, DHL, Capgemini—they were excited about the ability to use a major market where they have multiple retail establishments and all the things they didn’t have in Las Vegas.”

Lyle said AEG Rugby talked with the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and LA Tourism to make sure they would be able to make the event one that extends beyond the field as well. To that end, Lyle said, they will have an “adopt a country” program in which the 16 participating teams will be going into 16 schools to teach kids about the sport, along with a math literacy program.

“At the end of the day, you want more kids and adults attracted to the game, and we’ll have significant traction to work with the groups there to do that,” Lyle said.

And the traction not only comes from the fast-paced version that is rugby sevens, but also from being an Olympic sport. The 2016 Summer Olympic Games was the first time rugby had been in the Olympics since 1924.

“The Olympic Games is one of the things that every four years, everybody stops and watches. It’s something that kids aspire to be at and companies want to be involved with,” said Lyle, adding that once rugby was approved as an Olympic sport in 2009, NBC came aboard as a television partner and has since brought the sport to a wider audience.

LA Sevens

Date • February 29 to March 1

Location • Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

Format • Top two in each group advance to the quarterfinals

Teams • Pool A, Fiji, France, Argentina, Korea; Pool B, South Africa, Ireland, Canada, Kenya; Pool C, United States, Samoa, Scotland, Australia; Pool D, New Zealand, Wales, England, Spain

Of Note • There will be a fan festival in the South Bay along with the Los Angeles Invitational with more than 200 teams playing in several divisions on outer fields located at the complex

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
Posted in: Feature Story, Main Feature, Olympic Sports, Professional SportsTagged : Brett Gosper,Dan Lyle,Dignity Health Sports Park,LA2028,Los Angeles,Olympic sports,rugby,rugby sevens

Post navigation

Dave Klewan Named Board Chairman at LA Sports Council
How USA Team Handball Plans to Break Through

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

sportstravel

Totaling more than 250,000 square feet of column-f Totaling more than 250,000 square feet of column-free contiguous space, Exposition Center 1 and 2 at @worldequestriancenter make for the perfect flexible space for sporting events. With climate-control and on-site concessions, groups can beat the Florida heat and enjoy spectating. Both expo centers are equipped with Jumbotron screens, high-speed Wi-Fi and on-site parking, and can be transformed into a variety of configurations suitable for everything from volleyball to cheerleading.
The latest SportsTravel Podcast is a great convers The latest SportsTravel Podcast is a great conversation with legendary surfer @xococoho. We talk about this week’s U.S. Open of Surfing, the challenges she’s faced in her career and surfing’s place on the Olympic program. 

To listen, visit SportsTravelMagazine.com or subscribe on all major podcast platforms.

#surfing #podcast #podcasts #sportspodcasts #sportspodcast #sportstravel #sportstourism #worldsurfleague @wsl
The @dewtour returned to Des Moines this weekend a The @dewtour returned to Des Moines this weekend and the downtown Lauridsen Skatepark — the largest skatepark in the country. When it opened last year, it immediately hosted the tour, which served as an Olympic qualifier. This year’s event was free to the public, which came out in big numbers to see top stars compete in street and park competition in the massive venue. And incredible exposure for host @catchdesmoines along the way.

#skatepark #skateboard #dewtour @dsmskatepark #actionsports #sportsevents #sportsvenues
The @dewtour adaptive park competition was a crowd The @dewtour adaptive park competition was a crowd-pleaser with some of the best tricks and fan support of the entire weekend at @dsmskatepark in Des Moines.

#adaptivesports #adaptiveskateboarding #skatebording #dewtour @felipenunesskate @vinisardi
You saw him first at TEAMS ‘21 in Atlantic City You saw him first at TEAMS ‘21 in Atlantic City but last night, @heimana_reynolds lit up the course at the @dewtour in Des Moines! Who will be on the @teamsconference ‘22 program in Oklahoma City? Stay tuned, details coming soon!

#teams21 #skateboarding #skateboard #dewtour @playacsports @meet_ac @visitokc @northstarmeets @ntgtravel
Time sheets: If you’re an event organizer, you k Time sheets: If you’re an event organizer, you know.

Swimming at the State Games of America was held at the @wellmarkymca in downtown Des Moines and was one of the most popular of sports offered, as was evident on the wall.

#swimming #timesheets #eventorganizer #sportsevents #youthsports @catchdesmoines @iowagames
Long jump is for all ages. In fact, track and fiel Long jump is for all ages. In fact, track and field is the most participated sport at the State Games of America, with all ages represented. The oldest athlete at the games is an 88-year-old man from Iowa competing in track. The youngest is a 4-year-old, also competing in track.

#longjump #track #trackandfield #stategames #seniors #jumping @iowagames @iowastateu @discover_ames
Welcome to light saber, part fencing, part cosplay Welcome to light saber, part fencing, part cosplay, part martial arts, all fun. And featured at the State Games of America.

#lightsaber #saber @iowagames #stategames #starwars #whoooomp @discover_ames @iowastateu
Athletes from 46 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islan Athletes from 46 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada are competing this weekend at the State Games of America in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa. One highlight is getting to mark your hometown on the map.

#stategames @discover_ames @catchdesmoines @iowagames #map #sports #youthsports #amateursports #geography
Iowa is wrestling country and at the State Games o Iowa is wrestling country and at the State Games of America in Ames, wrestling is one of the most popular and passionate sports across all age groups, even those too young to get on the mat.

#wrestling #stategames @discover_ames @iowagames @iowastateu #competition
More than 16,000 athletes, officials and spectator More than 16,000 athletes, officials and spectators from 46 states are in Ames and Des Moines, Iowa, this weekend for the State Games of America, organized by the National Congress of State Games across 30 venues. SportsTravel is on hand and will share some of the action, which covers dozens of sports, including competitive yoga, light saber and more.

#stategames @catchdesmoines @discover_ames @iowastateu @iowagames #iowa #lightsaber #wrestling #yoga #track #archery #cauldron #soccer #youthsoccer
For the first time, the SportsTravel Road Trip tra For the first time, the SportsTravel Road Trip traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, in partnership with @gotolouisville and @sportsinlou. The program featured an opening night at @angelsenvy distillery, education at the @kfcyumcenter with sessions on future Olympic sports and the growth of @uslchampionship, and a game at the incredible @lynnfamilystadium between @louisvillecityfc and @phxrisingfc. It was the first time the event was held outside of its original home in Colorado Springs.

#sportstourism #louisville #sportstravel #sportsbusiness
Dodger Stadium is one of the best venues to watch Dodger Stadium is one of the best venues to watch a sporting event and the iconic stadium didn’t disappoint last night during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Gearing up for the 92nd MLB All-Star Game. There’s a large Yankees presence here, both past and present.
Last night was all about Washington Nationals supe Last night was all about Washington Nationals superstar Juan Soto, who won his first MLB Home Run Derby.
MLB All-Star Weekend MLB All-Star Weekend
TEAMS Europe is a wrap! The launch of our TEAMS Co TEAMS Europe is a wrap! The launch of our TEAMS Conference in the UK at the ExCeL in London was an astounding success. And we were delighted to have Lord Sebastian Coe as our keynote on the 10-year anniversary of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Special thanks to all our speakers and the HMS Belfast for a memorable opening night. Can’t wait for the next one and for our U.S. event, October 24-27, 2022, in Oklahoma City!
The latest SportsTravel Podcast is a deep dive on The latest SportsTravel Podcast is a deep dive on the new @sports_eta State of the Industry report, detailing how fast the industry recovered in 2021. Hear from Al Kidd and Jennifer Stoll on what that recovery looked like and take away lessons from the data that you can use to advocate for the importance of the industry.

To listen, visit SportsTravelMagazine.com or subscribe on all major podcast platforms.

And special thanks to @myrtlebeachconventioncenter for sponsoring this episode!

#podcast #sportspodcast #research #sports #sportsbiz #sportsbusiness #economicimpact
SportsTravel recently was able to take a look arou SportsTravel recently was able to take a look around The Podium, a world-class indoor track and field facility completed in 2021 in @spokanesports and @visitspokane. The venue has already hosted the USA Track and Field indoor championships in February 2002 and will host the 2002 USA Karate National Championships later this summer. While currently able to host other events such as local high school graduations by covering up the track plus karate, volleyball and more, indoor track and field is what makes the Podium stand out from the crowd. In its inaugural season, the complex hosted 13 events that totaled 9,867 room nights and had an estimated economic impact of more than $15.3 million dollars.
SportsTravel was able recently to go behind the sc SportsTravel was able recently to go behind the scenes at #Gonzaga University in @spokanesports and @visitspokane. Opened in 2004, the 6,000 seat McCarthey Athletic Center, known as “The Kennel,” has been sold out for every men’s basketball game since the building opened. The facility includes state of the art locker rooms and coaching office suites for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The event level includes the men’s and women’s locker rooms, athletic administrative offices, the Herak Club Room and more. The concourse level of houses men’s and women’s basketball coaching offices, six luxury suites and concessions stands. 

#gozags #basketball #sportstravel #spokane
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • USA Swimming Partners With RealResponse Reporting Platform
  • Space Coast Office of Tourism Names Terry Parks as Sports Coordinator
  • D3eSports Announces Partnership With United States Esports Federation
  • NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Makes Site Change
  • Ironman Takes on One of Its Toughest Challenges: Juneau
Sports Travel Magazine

About Us

Since 1997, SportsTravel magazine has served the sports‐related travel and event industry. It is the only publication written and designed to serve the people who organize, manage and host sporting events of all types at all levels.

  • Subscribe to E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • SportsTravel Foundation
  • Supplied Content
  • Privacy
  • Terms

NORTHSTAR TRAVEL MEDIA SITES

  • Northstar Meetings Group
  • Meetings & Conventions
  • Meetings & Conventions Asia
  • Meetings & Conventions China
  • Successful Meetings
  • Incentive
  • Meeting News
  • Retail Travel
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • See All Northstar Brands

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

Sports ETA

Destinations International
Northstar Travel Media LLC Copyright © 2022 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
scroll to top