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At Monday evening’s European Athletics Championships held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, nearly 10,000 seats remained unoccupied, despite a capacity of 23,000. Among the 13,623 spectators present was Britain’s 24-year-old sprinter Amy Hunt, who clinched her first senior international title in the women’s 100m final. However, the noticeably sparse crowd led to some dissatisfaction among athletics fans, many of whom pointed to the expensive ticket prices as a significant barrier to attendance. BBC commentator Steve Cram described the turnout as “a little disappointing,” highlighting the empty sections along the back straight of the stadium.
Organisers of Birmingham 2026, however, have expressed satisfaction with ticket sales, stating that they have “far surpassed” their initial targets. They reported that sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings are nearing full capacity, with several other sessions also close to being sold out. On Monday, the most expensive Category A tickets located by the home stretch were priced at £150, without any concessions for juniors. For comparison, tickets for the men’s 100m final on Tuesday in these prime seats cost £110, also lacking concessions. This contrasts with the 88-euro (£75) ticket price for a similar event at the European Championships in Rome two years ago.
Concerns about accessibility extended beyond ticket prices. Sharron Davies, a British Olympian, criticized the high prices of food sold within the stadium, mentioning £18.50 pork rolls and £15 hot dogs as examples. Jenny Meadows, co-coach to Keely Hodgkinson, expressed regret on social media that the stadium wasn’t filled throughout the championships, despite some sessions being at full capacity. Some spectators, including photographer Chris Brown who attended on Monday evening, found weekday ticket prices too high and noted many empty seats, especially in the pricier sections. Brown suggested the organisers consider relocating ticket holders to the lower seating tiers to improve the stadium’s appearance on broadcasts.
Fans at the event shared their frustrations about accessibility, transport, and value for money. Adam Hilton, who traveled from Manchester with his girlfriend, spent £120 on two tickets but felt the experience wasn’t worth the cost and might reconsider attending future sessions if refunds were available. Hilton also pointed out difficulties in reaching the stadium via public transport, noting that the nearest train station is about a mile away with shuttle buses running from the city centre, and that parking near the venue was limited. Despite these criticisms, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed optimism that attendance will improve as high-profile events, including the men’s 100m final and other prominent athletes competing, draw more spectators over the course of the championships
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