All parties must come to an end, and it looks like the Wellington Sevens has, like many parties in a rut, done its dash.
From an average of 29,000 spectators two years ago to 18,000 last year, the trend of ticket sales seems to be on a fast and furious decline.
With just one week to go, only 12,000 tickets have been sold and not even a debut by Sonny Bill Williams (the cool and talented guy everyone wants to have on their guest list) is boosting ticket sales.
Why the drastic decline in spectators over the past few years?
Those who go to the Cake Tin for the party will say that there are too many restrictions these days putting a dampener on their partying antics.
Rugby fans will mention that watching the rugby is getting more and more difficult with drunk, disorderly and dressed-up ruffians to deal with.
Neither camp is happy. It seems the Wellington Sevens is trying to be everything to everyone and has ended up being nothing to no-one.
Is it possible to provide a party atmosphere while also giving sevens followers a chance to watch the games?
Back in the early 2000s, this event was a novelty that allowed the usually conservative, dressed-in-black rugby fan to loosen up a bit.
They felt liberated with all the music, dancing in the aisles and flamboyant and outrageous costumes on display.
Then the non-rugby spectator caught wind of this party in the Cake Tin and things got really colourful.
The mix of rugby fans and raucous revellers was great for many years but now things have turned sour and/or stale lately.
Key tips for throwing a great party year after year include inviting some wild cards (on the field and in the stands), more people equals more fun (which is why it is important to demonstrate healthy ticket sales early on), providing great entertainment (is sevens still entertaining?), and surprising the guests.
Any party planner, big or small, will know it is hard work surprising guests year after year.
Every parent feels obliged to up the anti as their child's birthday approaches and there comes a point when enough is enough (usually when a breakdown is inevitable).
The Golden Globes relied on the snarky Ricky Gervais to surprise Hollywood A-listers with abuse and insults but even his humour gets ho-hum after several years.
This is similar to the downfall of the Wellington Sevens.
For 16 years, the organisers have tried to put on a great party/event in the same venue, with the same guests, and the same kind of entertainment.
Everyone knows that the sequel is never as good as the original unless there is some major twist no-one saw coming.
The NRL Nines in Auckland has also meant that large groups who may have made the long and expensive trek to the capital don't need to.
If they want an excuse to get dressed up, drink and hang out with friends, they can do that in their own backyard.
World Rugby Sevens general manager Avan Lee gave Wellington a ‘‘get-out-of-jail free'' card last year after disappointing crowd numbers, but the same leniency will surely not be offered this year.
Rio and Tokyo are chomping at the chance to host a sevens tournament, so will the NZRU have enough mana to demand a second chance as host?
Dunedin may be a good option for a few years, but to cope with our small population, limited attention span and even smaller demographic which can afford to attend maybe we should share it around a bit every two or three years.
Like the Golden Globes and Gervais, it is time for our capital city and sevens to part ways, before it gets too cringeworthy.
