European Championships attendance 'beat targets'

The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham attracted a total attendance of more than 218,000 over seven days, the city council says, after criticism of empty seats.

More than 9,000 seats were not filled at the 23,000-capacity Alexander Stadium on the opening evening on 10 August and athletics supporters at the time blamed ticket prices.

The overall figure announced a week later represented an average crowd of about 16,800 across 13 sessions - nearly three-quarters off the venue's capacity.

Ticket sales "surpassed targets set by event organisers", the council said.

In the final days, there were three successive sold-out evening sessions, a spokesperson added.

People could also experience Birmingham 2026 for free, they added, "with Saturday's race walking events and Sunday's marathons taking place in the city centre".

Thousands went to a fan zone in Centenary Square, paid for by the council's Together on Culture programme, the authority said.

On 10 August, Category A tickets for the home straight cost £150 with no concessions for juniors.

During coverage that evening, BBC commentator Steve Cram said: "Little disappointing in terms of spectators I have to say that, particularly down the back straight there."

But Birmingham 2026 organisers stated at the time they were "delighted" with ticket sales, which had "far surpassed" their targets.

"Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions are approaching sell-out, with several other sessions close to capacity," a spokesperson had added.

Organisers stated a family of four could go for £30, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said "half of all the tickets for the events here in Birmingham are under £30".

Highlights included British sprint star Amy Hunt winning four gold medals in the women's 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay.

The total attendance of 218,135 announced by the council worked out at an average of 16,780 per session, with six being held in the morning and seven in the evening.

Photographer Simon Felton, who was at the championships twice as a fan, said: "I think when you look at other competitions, Rome in the last [European championships]... it was always a bit of a quieter start as well.

"So I do think there's a bit of Brum bashing.

"But yeah there's a little bit of it would've been great to see even more people."

Felton, from Edgbaston in the city, also stated: "I think lots of athletics competitions and sporting competitions... actually you see empty seats.

"I think it's sometimes [a] bit of where the camera is."

The championships would leave "a lasting legacy" in the city through a programme that would "provide support and funding to help young people get active and become involved in community sport, in addition to jobs and skills development opportunities", the city council added.

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