European Athletics remains confident their championships in Birmingham will deliver a “special atmosphere” but has urged more people to purchase tickets after the event was hit with criticism over empty seats.
Attendance has risen each day of the European Athletics Championships, which started on Monday, when 12,844 people took in the morning session and 13,623 watched Amy Hunt win the women’s 100m on opening night.
Tuesday morning’s session drew 12,921 people and 16,208 saw Romell Glave and Jeremiah Azu make it a British one-two in the men’s 100m final at the Alexander Stadium, which seats approximately 23,000 spectators for this event.
A European Athletics statement read: “We are seeing a truly outstanding European Championships, with athletes from the host country Great Britain and across Europe producing performances worthy of this stage – and there is so much more still to come.
“Naturally, we would love to see a full stadium for every session, because nothing compares with the energy of a packed Alexander Stadium and the support it gives to the athletes.
“We are very pleased that demand for tickets to the second half of the championships is strong, and we want to encourage people to come and experience this incredible event for themselves.
“Championships have a way of building momentum as the days go by and we are confident Birmingham will continue to deliver that special atmosphere.”
On Tuesday, the Birmingham26 local organising committee insisted they were “delighted” by ticket sales, saying: “(Sales) far surpassed our targets. Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions are approaching sell-out, with several other sessions close to capacity.”
But the crowd controversy retained its social media steam on Wednesday, where many critics blamed the price of tickets for the sparse-looking stadium.
The lowest-priced tickets this week, £10 for adults and half for children aged 2-16, were for morning sessions from Monday to Wednesday, while the cheapest evening session tickets began at £26.
Prices rise at the end of the week, when some of the most recognisable athletes, including British Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson and world record-holding Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, will fight for medals.
The highest “category A” tickets are priced at £150 at their most expensive – for Monday night’s opening evening session and for the evening from Thursday to Sunday night.
