European Athletics Championships Criticized for High Prices and Low Attendance — image accompanying The Guardian Athletics's report. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Athletes and fans criticize high ticket prices at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Category A tickets cost £110, while food prices are also high. Despite over 13,000 fans attending, the 23,000-capacity venue appeared half full.
Steve Cram and Keely Hodgkinson's coach, Jenny Meadows, expressed disappointment. Cram noted low attendance in the back straight. Meadows highlighted high ticket prices, parking issues, and lack of awareness. Birmingham 2026 defended ticket sales, stating 50% were £30 or less. Read more racing coverage.
Sonja McLaughlan criticized the prices on social media, calling them shocking. Some suggested giving away empty seats to youth sports clubs. Fans also questioned the late finish and lack of family-friendly options. The M6 closure near the stadium added to the challenges. Related: Hodgkinson Second Favorite for 800m Gold in Birmingham.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about European Athletics Championships Criticized for High Prices and Low Attendance?
Concerns over high ticket and food prices lead to sparse crowds at Birmingham event. Athletes and fans criticize high ticket prices at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Category A tickets cost £110, while food prices are also high. Despite over 13,000 fans attending, the 23,000-capacity venue appeared half full.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 11, 2026. The underlying The Guardian Athletics report was dated August 11, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from The Guardian Athletics. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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