10,000 Empty Seats at Europeans

The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham have been criticized for having thousands of empty seats, with many blaming high ticket prices. Nearly 10,000 seats were empty at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium on Monday evening, with a crowd of 13,623 watching Britain's 24-year-old sprinter Amy Hunt storm to her first senior international title.

The Alexander Stadium has a capacity of 23,000, but attendance has been lower than expected, with many pointing to high ticket prices as the reason. Category A tickets for the home straight cost £150 with no concessions for juniors on Monday, while the same seats cost £110 for the men's 100m final on Tuesday. In comparison, a similar ticket for the same final in Rome two years ago cost €88 or £75.

Despite the criticism, the Birmingham 2026 local organising committee said it was 'delighted' by ticket sales, adding that sales have 'far surpassed' their targets. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening sessions are approaching sell-out, with several other sessions close to capacity. On Tuesday, 16,208 people watched the men’s 100m final at the Alexander Stadium.

The high cost of food and drinks at the stadium has also been criticized, with pork rolls selling for £18.50 and hot dogs for £15. British Olympian Sharron Davies took to social media to express her disappointment, saying that the high prices were making it difficult for fans to attend and support the athletes.

## Why it matters The low attendance at the European Athletics Championships is a concern for the sport, as it may indicate a lack of interest or a barrier to entry for fans. The high ticket prices and cost of food and drinks may be deterring people from attending, which could have long-term consequences for the sport. As Britain's first time hosting the championships in their 92-year history, the event was expected to be a success, but the empty seats have raised questions about the pricing strategy and the accessibility of the event.

The criticism of the empty seats and high ticket prices has sparked a debate about the affordability of sports events and the need to make them more accessible to fans. As the championships continue, it remains to be seen whether the attendance will improve and whether the organizers will take steps to address the concerns of fans.