World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says empty seats at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham will not harm London’s bid to host the 2029 World Championships.
Criticism has focused on lower attendance earlier in the week at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, which has a capacity of about 23,000. One report notes that crowds on some days were as low as 12,844 and that questions have been raised about ticket pricing and event marketing. However, both outlets say the later stages of the meet are drawing close to full capacity, with the last days reported to be near sellout.
In the context of the 2029 host race, Coe addresses concerns that sparse crowds could be interpreted as a lack of demand. While the coverage highlights the optics of early-week attendance, it also reflects that the bidding process is being judged on broader factors than any single day’s turnout. Both sources frame Coe’s response as a direct rebuttal to the idea that the Birmingham attendance pattern will materially affect London’s prospects.
