The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham have faced criticism over expensive ticket and food prices, with fans questioning why the event has struggled to fill the stands. Tickets for some sessions have reportedly reached £150, while a barbecue pork roll at Alexander Stadium costs £18.50.The championships feature several of Britain’s biggest athletics stars, including Keely Hodgkinson, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt. However, supporters have complained that high costs could prevent families and young fans from attending. The event is being held in Britain for the first time and runs from August 10 to 16.
European Athletics Championships participants’ families and fans hit by high prices
Ticket prices for the European Athletics Championships are set by European Athletics in partnership with the Local Organising Committee. The pricing has drawn criticism after some sessions appeared to have large numbers of empty seats.Former England footballer Stan Collymore was among those to question the prices. He suggested that the high costs could explain the poor crowds and described the situation as bad publicity for the championships. Collymore pointed out that some weekend tickets cost £150, £100 and £70 depending on the category.He also argued that cheaper tickets would make it easier for families and children to attend. According to Collymore, athletics needs to attract young supporters, especially when major events provide only limited opportunities for fans to watch the sport live.The criticism has also focused on the cost of food and drinks inside Alexander Stadium. A barbecue pork roll is priced at £18.50, while a bratwurst costs £15. Barbecue loaded fries are reportedly £12, and a bottle of water costs £3.95.Several fans have described the prices as excessive. One fan wrote, “Thatcherism-money before happiness! This is how our pathetic little society operates now!”, another wrote, “Every sporting event or music event nowadays we are just getting ripped off . Just out pricing the working person out of everything. It’s a disgrace”. A user wrote, “I am trying to sell two tickets for less than the asking price but the ticket operator will only let me put what I paid for them. Really sad the stands look half empty.”A fan wrote, “Probably £4 each if your on Universal Credit. Country is a joke”.The pricing issue has also affected athletes’ families and friends. Competitors have reportedly not received complimentary tickets for the championships, while UK Athletics has not provided special discounts for this event.That has surprised some athletes. One competitor said it would have been helpful if organisers had at least provided discounted tickets so more relatives and friends could attend the home championships. Another athlete said they initially believed the lack of complimentary tickets was an error.The situation is particularly notable because athletes received at least one free ticket at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while complimentary or discounted access for athletes’ families is common at many major championships.Great Britain has selected a 96-member team for the Birmingham championships. With major names competing on home soil, supporters have questioned whether more affordable pricing could have helped create fuller stands and a stronger atmosphere throughout the week.
