All articles tagged with #empty seats
FIFA pushed back on viral images of empty seats at a Guadalajara World Cup match, saying the official attendance figure was accurate and that several ticketed fans were seen standing in concourses rather than in their seats, which created the appearance of vacant sections despite a near-capacity crowd. The piece also touches on ticket prices and related scrutiny surrounding the tournament.
The World Cup opener in Guadalajara drew attention for thousands of empty seats despite pricey tickets (up to $500 for lower tier, $400 for upper). Official attendance was 44,985 of a 45,644-capacity Akron Stadium for the South Korea–C Czech Republic match; FIFA says attendance reflects tickets scanned, not real-time seating occupancy, and some fans were seen in concourses rather than seated.
Chelsea's opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup in Atlanta was poorly attended, with only about 22,137 spectators in a stadium that can hold 71,000, raising questions about fan interest and tournament marketing, especially given the timing and ticket prices.
Jimmy Kimmel fact-checked Donald Trump's claim of a "record crowd" at his rally by rolling a video showing lots of empty seats, prompting mockery from Kimmel and observations from fellow Republicans. Footage revealed that half of the stadium had been curtained off, contradicting Trump's boast.
A video has surfaced showing numerous empty seats at a Donald Trump rally in New Hampshire, raising questions about the actual size of the crowd. Trump has a history of exaggerating crowd sizes at his events. During the rally, he faced criticism for echoing rhetoric used by Adolf Hitler, claiming that immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the United States. Trump's spokesperson defended his speech, while critics accused him of normalizing and mainstreaming dangerous rhetoric.
The French Open set a new record with 630,000 visitors this year, but many of them failed to take their seats, particularly in the corporate boxes. Several women's matches were played in front of half-empty stands, making for poor footage as TV cameras hovered above the stadium. The night session was brought half an hour forward to start at 8:30 pm local time, helping to avoid late transportation problems. However, none of the 10 night sessions were women's matches for the second year in a row, with world number Jessica Pegula saying women were "undervalued."
The Michigan hockey team will have to bring its own energy to the NCAA Tournament in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as the postseason is known for its unpredictability and empty seats. The Wolverines have played in front of an average of 7,500 fans this season, but their next game against Colgate is likely to have a much smaller crowd. The NCAA Tournament's format makes hosting a relatively niche sport at a neutral site difficult and a dubious investment. However, Michigan might draw a bigger crowd if they play Penn State in the second round, as the Nittany Lions are a host team that made the NCAA Tournament.