A long time advocate of the Wellington Sevens is urging punters to get on board with next week's tournament, in the wake of dismal ticket sales.

Only 17,000 tickets have sold for the 34,000 capacity Westpac Stadium, with organisers blaming competing events.

Museum Hotel owner Chris Parkin says if people want to attract different events, they need to support the ones they already have.

"The message that would give, especially in attracting new events, we'd be basically saying to people that Wellington is a failure, they don't support the things that are given to them on a plate."