| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 10:13 - Aug 11 with 2224 views | Ryorry |
Looked like poor attendance last night, stands half empty - anyone know why? Just had a look on ticket site - very reasonable prices, £10-60, & it's saying "high demand", so maybe will be better today.
Lack of awareness last night, lack of interest? |  |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:15 - Aug 11 with 2195 views | Guthrum |
Possibly also because we've just had the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, so people had to choose between which one to attend. |  |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:28 - Aug 11 with 2134 views | MattinLondon |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:15 - Aug 11 by Guthrum |
Possibly also because we've just had the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, so people had to choose between which one to attend. |
I doubt it considering the cost of the ticket prices.
I only watched around 30 minutes of it last night but I kept on asking myself how can athletics survive on such low attendances - especially so as it’s a major event. |  | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:33 - Aug 11 with 2095 views | Guthrum |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:28 - Aug 11 by MattinLondon |
I doubt it considering the cost of the ticket prices.
I only watched around 30 minutes of it last night but I kept on asking myself how can athletics survive on such low attendances - especially so as it’s a major event. |
Not just ticket prices, but also travel and hotel rooms in high summer. Plus committing time, maybe holiday from work.
Pretty much no sport survives on attendances alone. It's all sponsorship, TV money and grants. | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:37 - Aug 11 with 2074 views | tractor_lady |
when i looked a few weeks back costs were much higher.... |  | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:45 - Aug 11 with 2039 views | MattinLondon |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:33 - Aug 11 by Guthrum |
Not just ticket prices, but also travel and hotel rooms in high summer. Plus committing time, maybe holiday from work.
Pretty much no sport survives on attendances alone. It's all sponsorship, TV money and grants. |
I understand that but larger attendances probably equate to more sponsors wishing to be associated with that event/sport. And in turn, paying a lot more for the association.
I totally forgot about travel and hotel rooms especially at this time of year. | | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 12:29 - Aug 11 with 1794 views | DJR |
In terms of media hype, athletics has slipped way down the pecking order which is a shame as it is one of my three favourite sports along with football and rugby.
Having said that, the Commonwealth Games excepted, it is still free to air on the BBC which works for someone like me who isn't signed up to Sky, TNT etc.
Interestingly, the recent Diamond League meet where the mile record was broken was a sell-out but such meets have the athletics concentrated in a day or so, so there is much more to see if you attend.
Organisers have also said that the later stages of these games are pretty much sold out. |  | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 12:41 - Aug 11 with 1749 views | NedPlimpton |
I'm going on Fri night for the women's 800m final where Keely Hodgkinson will be running. Booked tickets a fair while ago and weren't many left at the time
Think it's just an interest thing. Should pick up throughout the week as we get to some of the 'bigger' finals |  | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 13:08 - Aug 11 with 1674 views | stonojnr |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 12:41 - Aug 11 by NedPlimpton |
I'm going on Fri night for the women's 800m final where Keely Hodgkinson will be running. Booked tickets a fair while ago and weren't many left at the time
Think it's just an interest thing. Should pick up throughout the week as we get to some of the 'bigger' finals |
Why hold the womens 100m final on a Monday then ? | | | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 13:14 - Aug 11 with 1634 views | NedPlimpton |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 13:08 - Aug 11 by stonojnr |
Why hold the womens 100m final on a Monday then ? |
Why not?
Need some Monday evening finals and the women's 100m has some good British pedigree from previous years. Turned out pretty well for Amy Hunt. Shame there wasn't a bigger crowd for it, but I don't think it's anywhere near as big in this country as seeing Hodgkinson Vs Bol in the 800m which is going to be the biggest event of the week by some distance | | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 15:52 - Aug 11 with 1426 views | jontysnut |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:28 - Aug 11 by MattinLondon |
I doubt it considering the cost of the ticket prices.
I only watched around 30 minutes of it last night but I kept on asking myself how can athletics survive on such low attendances - especially so as it’s a major event. |
Apparently £15 for a hot dog helping to fund things |  | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 17:53 - Aug 11 with 1327 views | Ryorry |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:37 - Aug 11 by tractor_lady |
when i looked a few weeks back costs were much higher.... |
Interesting. | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 21:38 - Aug 11 with 1205 views | Ryorry |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:37 - Aug 11 by tractor_lady |
when i looked a few weeks back costs were much higher.... |
Was discussed on BBC R4 6pm news. Tickets for the home stretch were originally £150; & water at £5/bottle has not gone down at all well, unsurprisingly. [Post edited 11 Aug 21:39]
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 21:44 - Aug 11 with 1168 views | NedPlimpton |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 15:52 - Aug 11 by jontysnut |
Apparently £15 for a hot dog helping to fund things |
Just been reading about this. Will make sure I eat before I get there! | | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 07:00 - Aug 12 with 987 views | Swansea_Blue |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:37 - Aug 11 by tractor_lady |
when i looked a few weeks back costs were much higher.... |
That might have something to do with it. Poor free to air coverage of what’s essentially a bit of a niche sport won’t be helping raise awareness and improve audiences either. |  |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:02 - Aug 12 with 874 views | DJR |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 07:00 - Aug 12 by Swansea_Blue |
That might have something to do with it. Poor free to air coverage of what’s essentially a bit of a niche sport won’t be helping raise awareness and improve audiences either. |
I am not sure what you mean by poor free to air coverage.
From my perspective, the BBC athletics coverage is the best of all TV sporting coverage with people like Gabby Logan, Jessica Ennis, Steve Cram and Colin Jackson.
Nor would I describe it as a niche sport. [Post edited 12 Aug 10:03]
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:07 - Aug 12 with 853 views | Ryorry |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 07:00 - Aug 12 by Swansea_Blue |
That might have something to do with it. Poor free to air coverage of what’s essentially a bit of a niche sport won’t be helping raise awareness and improve audiences either. |
It IS free to air though, BBC1. Or did you mean prior to these Championships? | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:59 - Aug 12 with 778 views | ronnyd |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 21:38 - Aug 11 by Ryorry |
Was discussed on BBC R4 6pm news. Tickets for the home stretch were originally £150; & water at £5/bottle has not gone down at all well, unsurprisingly. [Post edited 11 Aug 21:39]
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Rip off Britain? | | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 11:10 - Aug 12 with 764 views | Radlett_blue |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 10:02 - Aug 12 by DJR |
I am not sure what you mean by poor free to air coverage.
From my perspective, the BBC athletics coverage is the best of all TV sporting coverage with people like Gabby Logan, Jessica Ennis, Steve Cram and Colin Jackson.
Nor would I describe it as a niche sport. [Post edited 12 Aug 10:03]
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I watched the BBC coverage last night & enjoyed it. I hadn't heard of any of the athletes because, like most people, I give athletics a bit of attention during the Olympics & that's it. That's why I think it is "niche" or minority.
The commentators all seemed articulate & knowledgeable, but as my knowledge of athletics is now so limited, this isn't a high bar. I did enjoy seeing competitors seem genuinely pleased with their efforts, even if they didn't win, in contrast to so many other sports. Also a genuine camaraderie between the athletes. |  |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 11:23 - Aug 12 with 747 views | DJR |
The Guardian has an article on the poor attendance but interestingly it says this.
"For the start of the competition, category A tickets in the main stand cost £110, with category B tickets coming in at £90. However, those seats have been better filled than the cheaper seats for £60 (category C) and £40 (category D)."
https://www.theguardian.com/sp
And it seemed a lot fuller last night. | | | |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 11:25 - Aug 12 with 729 views | Radlett_blue |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 11:23 - Aug 12 by DJR |
The Guardian has an article on the poor attendance but interestingly it says this.
"For the start of the competition, category A tickets in the main stand cost £110, with category B tickets coming in at £90. However, those seats have been better filled than the cheaper seats for £60 (category C) and £40 (category D)."
https://www.theguardian.com/sp
And it seemed a lot fuller last night. |
Rather like Test cricket, you can sell overpriced events in London but elsewhere is a struggle. | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 13:02 - Aug 12 with 642 views | Ryorry |
| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 11:23 - Aug 12 by DJR |
The Guardian has an article on the poor attendance but interestingly it says this.
"For the start of the competition, category A tickets in the main stand cost £110, with category B tickets coming in at £90. However, those seats have been better filled than the cheaper seats for £60 (category C) and £40 (category D)."
https://www.theguardian.com/sp
And it seemed a lot fuller last night. |
It did seem fuller last night, but there were still chunks of obviously unfilled stands.
Further explanation in a post on X -
"Park & Ride £22.50
Ride & Walk £17.50
Pork Sandwich £18.00
Burger £17.50
Hot Dog £16.00
Fries £9.00
Coke etc £5.00
Water £3.00
Beer £10.00
No parking within 3 miles.
Nearest Train Station 2 miles."
Not going to attract more people to the sport if they can't access it - what stupid policies pricing people out transport-wise in particular. | |
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| European Athletics Championships Brum '26 on 08:03 - Aug 13 with 485 views | DJR |
A snippet from an article in today's Guardian.
"The only disappointment was that the stand named after him was not packed to the rafters to celebrate his triumph. There has been a lot of talk about prices being too high. However, it is not as simple as that given that most of the £110 Category A seats in the main stand were sold out.
It has been the cheaper tickets, some of which have been priced as low as £40 and £20, that have struggled to sell out.
There are many reasons for that. The stadium is out of town. It is not easy to park nearby. There is a cost of living crisis and, in fairness to the organisers, the last four days of competition are said to be sell-outs. Who can blame people for waiting for the end of the week when there are more finals? European Athletics says 80% of tickets – about 200,000 in total – have now been sold and it is expecting big crowds for the last few days. But there is perhaps another factor for that figure not being higher.
The last four European championships have been staged in Rome, Munich, Berlin and Amsterdam. These are cities where it is easy to combine a city break with sport, art and culture. Birmingham just doesn’t pack that punch. As one press box wag put it, Rome has the Colosseum, Birmingham has the Bullring." | | | |
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