Empty Seats and Ticket Pricing: World Cup 2023 Observations
The World Cup commenced with great enthusiasm in Mexico City, with a bustling stadium celebrating the hosts’ triumph. However, the subsequent match in the tournament experienced visible empty seats as South Korea secured a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. This occurred at the Guadalajara stadium on Thursday night, aligning with weeks of questions about interest in the largest World Cup in history. The concerns primarily focused on ticket pricing and FIFA’s marketing strategy.
The Azteca Stadium hosted over 80,000 lively fans as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. In contrast, the Guadalajara game, featuring teams ranked below the top 25, saw fewer attendees. Several middle sections of the stands had many unfilled seats, contributing to the overall sparse attendance.
Though the stadium in Guadalajara seated nearly 46,000, the official attendance was reported as 44,985. Nevertheless, many empty seats were noted. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction about the high costs of tickets, accommodations, and travel among the three hosting nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Additionally, visa access to the U.S. has been under scrutiny.
An NBC News analysis evaluated the affordability of the World Cup for average U.S. fans. It found that while tickets and hotels were accessible for early tournament matches, the costs for attending matches could equate to a month’s rent in cities like Chicago. The audience present predominantly supported South Korea, enjoying the comeback win.
Earlier this week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket pricing, claiming it was consistent with major sports events. More than six million tickets had been sold for the tournament, and Infantino suggested the demand surpassed expectations by a significant margin. He stated that the entry price of $60 was the lowest among American sports playoff phases.
Nevertheless, various supporter groups contested this viewpoint. Football Supporters Europe registered a complaint with the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of excluding ordinary fans with exorbitant prices compared to past World Cups. They also noted that $60 tickets were scarcely available and quickly sold out before public sales began.
Last month, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey subpoenaed FIFA concerning its ticketing practices, following media reports that alleged fans were possibly misled about the seat locations. This, coupled with FIFA’s public statements and ticket releases, might have influenced the inflated pricing. Even President Donald Trump commented on the high ticket prices in a recent New York Post interview.