European Athletics Championships address criticism of empty seats in Birmingham

Organisers of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham are responding to criticisms regarding visible empty seats at the event. Attendance has increased daily, with 16,208 spectators at the men’s 100m final on Tuesday, but the Alexander Stadium's capacity of about 23,000 remains far from full. Organisers express confidence that ticket demand will grow, especially for the second half of the championships, which feature prominent athletes like Keely Hodgkinson and Mondo Duplantis. A blend of ticket pricing concerns and slow initial attendance has drawn social media backlash. However, local officials report strong sales for upcoming sessions, with several nearing sell-out status.

• 5:50 PMYahoo Sports — European Athletics Championships organisers respond to backlash over empty seats in Birmingham