Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, has publicly addressed concerns regarding visible empty seats at the European championships currently held in Birmingham. Critics have pointed to the sparse attendance during the early stages of the event as a potential red flag for London’s ongoing bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. The low turnout has been widely attributed to high ticket prices and perceived shortcomings in the event's marketing strategy.

Despite these criticisms, Coe remains confident that the situation will not hinder London’s future hosting prospects. His position is supported by European Athletics, which has officially backed the local organizers. The governing body highlighted that the event has successfully reached peak television audiences exceeding two million people, representing a 20% market share. Furthermore, organizers noted that ticket sales have improved significantly, with the final four days of the competition trending toward a sellout. While the initial lack of spectators sparked debate, the focus has now shifted toward the strong broadcast numbers and the late surge in attendance as evidence of the event's overall success.