Canadian Rugby players welcome Vancouver Hotel Destination Association and Grosvenor as partners of Canada Sevens Vancouver; one week remaining for fans to register for early bird ticket pre-sale

VANCOUVER, Aug. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - The HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver Men's Rugby Tournament scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2016 at BC Place Stadium, welcomed two new sponsors today – Vancouver Hotel Destination Association and Grosvenor – as Premier and Signature Partners.

The announcement comes with just one week remaining for Rugby fans to register at www.canadasevens.com for the early bird ticket pre-sale that begins Tuesday, September 1, 2015.  Members of the public who sign up for early bird ticket pre-sale also have the opportunity to win a Canada Sevens tournament pass. General public ticket sales begin Tuesday, September 8, 2015, with tickets starting at only $89 for a full weekend pass, giving ticketholders access to all 45 games over the course of the two day festival.

"Rugby Sevens is a dynamic combination of international high performance sport and a fan festival that together, will entertain fans in a way they will never forget," said Bill Cooper, CEO of Rugby Sevens, Vancouver. "A big part of this tournament is about giving the athletes and the crowd the experience of a lifetime, and we're thrilled that the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association and Grosvenor are playing such an important role in bringing this unique and exciting event to life."

Vancouver Hotel Destination Association joins Canada Sevens as a Premier Partner, accommodating tournament participants and enabling organizers to offer visitors special hotel rates for the tournament. Exclusive accommodation and ticket packages will be available at www.bevancouver.com starting September 8.

"Vancouver continues to look for opportunities to host world class events," said Indu Brar, Chair of the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association. "Our 35 downtown Vancouver member hotels are pleased to be a major supporter of the HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver Men's Rugby Tournament. This event will not only bring visitors from participating nations, but will also showcase Vancouver as a world class destination through international media coverage around the world."

International property investor and developer, Grosvenor, has signed on as Signature Partner and title sponsor of the tournament's Club seating section in a multi-year partnership.

"Seven-a-side rugby is one of the top sporting spectacles in the world," said Grosvenor Americas CEO, Andrew Bibby. "Vancouver, with its spectacular setting, vibrant nightlife and rugby tradition is the perfect host for this truly international event."

Canadian Rugby players, Sean Duke and Justin Douglas, welcomed Grosvenor and the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, sharing insights into what Vancouver can expect from one of the world's most colourful and energetic sporting events that will play host to 192 athletes from 16 countries around the world.

"There is nothing like a Rugby Sevens crowd, and I couldn't be more excited about sharing this experience with Vancouverites next March," Canadian player and top 40 all-time point scorer, Sean Duke said. "Whether you follow the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, understand regular rugby, or are totally new to the game, you'll enjoy a Rugby Sevens game. The game is fast and physical, and the atmosphere is incredibly fun."

In addition to the weekend sport festivities, the city of Vancouver promises to be alive with amateur play at the Vancouver Rugby Festival, taking place throughout the Lower Mainland on March 10 and 11, hosted by the British Columbia Rugby Union. Local, national, and international men's and women's teams of all ages will be playing and celebrating Rugby. Tournament information, including registration details, will be available in September at bcrugby.com.

The Canada Sevens Women's Rugby Tournament will be held in Langford BC, and tournament organizers expect to be sharing confirmed tournament dates in the coming weeks.  

About Vancouver Hotel Destination Association:

The Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (VHDA) is a group of 35 downtown Vancouver hotels who contribute towards the Vancouver Destination Marketing Fund (DMF). These marketing funds are used to directly enhance Vancouver's destination awareness and increase overnight hotel stays for all VHDA member hotels. The VHDA achieves this objective by working with partner organizations to add incremental programs, and augment existing marketing initiatives aimed at ensuring the continued long-term growth and prosperity of Vancouver, creating value for all partners in the tourism sector.

About Grosvenor Americas:

Grosvenor Americas aims to become a market leader in select geographical areas and sectors in Canada and the USA through focused, strategic expansion. Grosvenor Americas uses their knowledge of the cities they work in and their property skills to develop projects that contribute to the vibrancy and attractiveness of those communities. The company currently operates in Vancouver, Calgary, Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles and has specific interest in retail, residential condominiums and apartments and mixed-use sectors. Recent Vancouver projects include The RISE on the Cambie Street corridor, 15 West in North Vancouver, Grosvenor Ambleside in West Vancouver. Development sites in Edgemont Village and at the intersection of Hornby Street and Pacific Avenue are currently in planning stages. As at 31 December 2014 Grosvenor Americas had assets under management of $3.0B CND. For more information, please visit www.grosvenor.com.

About Canada Sevens:

The Canada Sevens will be a two-day indoor tournament 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 rugby sevens teams. The Canada Sevens will be the fifth 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.

SOURCE Canada Sevens

Melissa Lemberg, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]