British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

paulisi · Tennis legend

RE: European Athletics Champs - Birmingham

indiana · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
On the subject of prices - & not just the tickets!
I can vouch for that, the catering prices are outrageous.
Ticket sales will be better as the week goes on. It was certainly bigger last night(tickets were cheaper)
Unfortunately, Birmingham doesnt have tne support for big athletics crowds as the British Champs are poorly supported

So the organisers are delighted wirh ticket sales, which have far exceeded their targets. Clearly aren't folk for setting too challenging targets!!

The weekend may be looking like being pretty full but it's a week long event.

Not a great look with a London 2029 World Athletics bid being made ( vs Nairobi, Rome, and Munich ) though I would guess London and the London Stadium will be viewed rather differently and clearly a much bigger event.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 12th of August 2026 08:44:15 AM

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
paulisi wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
On the subject of prices - & not just the tickets!
I can vouch for that, the catering prices are outrageous.
Ticket sales will be better as the week goes on. It was certainly bigger last night(tickets were cheaper)
Unfortunately, Birmingham doesnt have tne support for big athletics crowds as the British Champs are poorly supported
So the organisers are delighted wirh ticket sales, which have far exceeded their targets. Clearly aren't folk for setting too challenging targets!!
The weekend may be looking like being pretty full bit it's a week long event.
Not a great look with a London 2029 World Athletics bid being made though I would guess London and the London Stadium will be viewed rather differently and clearly a much bigger event.

London Stadium is rammed for the Diamond League event, just need to go back and look at iPlayer to see. And it always is.

I don't doubt we will have any challenges filling that for a World Championships bid, for sure. As an aside, I noticed they had 53000 for the West Ham match in the EFL Cup (Carabao) at the weekend; first match of the season of course, but nonetheless big crowd and it seems a stadium that is almost always hosting big crowds whatever the sport.

Why Birmingham isn't full beyond prices etc, not sure. What does it hold, 15-20k? Looking at the pictures, there were maybe 8-10k in there last night, less the night before?

indiana · Tennis legend

The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.

That would tally, it looked half full (less to be honest) although Tuesday evening looked more like 2/3rds full from what I saw.

I didnt watch the Glasgow Commonwealth athletics apart from the 1500 m race, what were the crowds like there and what does the Glasgow arena (Scotstoun?) hold?

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.
That would tally, it looked half full (less to be honest) although Tuesday evening looked more like 2/3rds full from what I saw.
I didnt watch the Glasgow Commonwealth athletics apart from the 1500 m race, what were the crowds like there and what does the Glasgow arena (Scotstoun?) hold?

I just watched the men's mile ( ) too. Scotstoun capacity was just 11,000 and still I gathered far from full throughout the athletics. Some indoor venues like for the gymnastics seemingly pretty vibrant.

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.
That would tally, it looked half full (less to be honest) although Tuesday evening looked more like 2/3rds full from what I saw.
I didnt watch the Glasgow Commonwealth athletics apart from the 1500 m race, what were the crowds like there and what does the Glasgow arena (Scotstoun?) hold?
I just watched the men's mile ( ) too. Scotstoun capacity was just 11,000 and still I gathered far from full throughout the athletics. Some indoor venues like for the gymnastics seemingly pretty vibrant.

Yes, mile, haha. biggrin

Scotstoun is also where the DC tennis has been held and the Glasgow Challenger event when they had it? Is it sort of a Sports City a bit like Manchester has with the velodrome, hockey etc venues?

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.
That would tally, it looked half full (less to be honest) although Tuesday evening looked more like 2/3rds full from what I saw.
I didnt watch the Glasgow Commonwealth athletics apart from the 1500 m race, what were the crowds like there and what does the Glasgow arena (Scotstoun?) hold?
I just watched the men's mile ( ) too. Scotstoun capacity was just 11,000 and still I gathered far from full throughout the athletics. Some indoor venues like for the gymnastics seemingly pretty vibrant.
Yes, mile, haha.
Scotstoun is also where the DC tennis has been held and the Glasgow Challenger event when they had it? Is it sort of a Sports City a bit like Manchester has with the velodrome, hockey etc venues?

Scotstoun is basically just a local sports centre with Scotstoun Stadium beside it. Athletics stadium ( with much lower permanent capacity ) but nowadays its main function is as host to Glasgow Warriors Rugby Union team. Sports City be pushing it

Not where Davis Cup ties have been held ( essentially just a big sports hall for tennis so far too limited for that ) but is the regular venue for Glasgow Challengers and ITFs.

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
JonH wrote:
indiana wrote:
The BBC article that SC linked to says that there were 13,623 on Monday evening in a stadium with a 23,000 capacity.
That would tally, it looked half full (less to be honest) although Tuesday evening looked more like 2/3rds full from what I saw.
I didnt watch the Glasgow Commonwealth athletics apart from the 1500 m race, what were the crowds like there and what does the Glasgow arena (Scotstoun?) hold?
I just watched the men's mile ( ) too. Scotstoun capacity was just 11,000 and still I gathered far from full throughout the athletics. Some indoor venues like for the gymnastics seemingly pretty vibrant.
Yes, mile, haha.
Scotstoun is also where the DC tennis has been held and the Glasgow Challenger event when they had it? Is it sort of a Sports City a bit like Manchester has with the velodrome, hockey etc venues?
Scotstoun is basically just a local sports centre with Scotstoun Stadium beside it. Athletics stadium ( with much lower permanent capacity ) but nowadays its main function is as host to Glasgow Warriors Rugby Union team. Sports City be pushing it
Not where Davis Cup ties have been held ( essentially just a big sports hall for tennis so far too limited for that ) but is the regular venue for Glasgow Challengers and ITFs.

Ah ok - what was the Glasgow venue they used for DC ties a few years back? I recall Kelvin Hall being a big boxing venue at one time, that may not be operating anymore?

indiana · Tennis legend

The Emirates Arena ( nowadays the Glasgow International Arena ), capacity 8,200 for tennis, was the Glasgow Davis Cup venue.

It is in the east side, very close to Celtic Park, and was originally bulit in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games along with the next door Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Re the Kelvin Hall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_Hall

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
The Emirates Arena ( nowadays the Glasgow International Arena ), capacity 8,200 for tennis, was the Glasgow Davis Cup venue.

It is in the east side, very close to Celtic Park, and was originally bulit in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games along with the next door Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Re the Kelvin Hall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_Hall

That was correct - Jim Watt and his big fights are what i remember from a long time ago!

paulisi · Tennis legend

Crowds were down a little yesterday, but there was a hundred match in town and Aston Villa were on tv.

London will have no issues selling tickets for worlds. It is easy to get to and has a bigger fanbase. As long as the pricing is right.

indiana · Tennis legend

Looking forward to the Hodgkinson vs Werro vs Broeders-Bol 800m final on Friday night if Werro is fully fit to go. Hodgkinson and Werro are clearly already among the greatest of all time and Bol's full 800m potential is untapped ( though I get that her seemingly so relaxed style is really how she has always run ). Yes, track and shoe technology has greatly advanced but the only 2 better times than Werro's best 2 are from let's say murky times of over 40 years ago. Hope at least for a great race whatever the times here.

I had assumed Werro would be out after she fell in her SF and from a BBC angle it looked clear, like Greg Rutherford said when he saw it - "she's tripped herself". After the official reinstatement verdict that a French girl's right hand had touched Werro's right leg upsetting her rythm, I looked back at the BBC clip and get that it was certainly in the vicinity. Presumably the authorites had other evidence to indicate at least a probable actual touch ( whether it becomes public or not given that this is championship racing not schools sports day? )

Was really good to see Jemma Reekie in such form. Been quite a while for a number of reasons but a 1.55.61 runner at her best. And love the enthusiam of Hodgkinson's Italian friend who produced a huge PB and national record on her way to the final.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 13th of August 2026 05:53:49 PM

paulisi · Tennis legend

As a qualified track official, there is no way i would have put Werro back in the final.
She tripped herself. It was purely a play to ensure the hype for tomorrow's final to keep the crowds and media interest.

No idea why Max Burgin withdrew, he would have won that 800m.( watched on TNT as they cover athletics and have no studio talk or interviews.)

As for Amy Hunt, i did like her, but her ****y attitude this week is really annoying me.

Decent crowd tonight for a change.

indiana · Tennis legend

paulisi wrote:
As a qualified track official, there is no way i would have put Werro back in the final.
She tripped herself. It was purely a play to ensure the hype for tomorrow's final to keep the crowds and media interest.

No idea why Max Burgin withdrew, he would have won that 800m.( watched on TNT as they cover athletics and have no studio talk or interviews.)

As for Amy Hunt, i did like her, but her ****y attitude this week is really annoying me.

Decent crowd tonight for a change.

So you've seen all the evidence the officials there had?! Or at least you've seen something much clearer ( TNT or wherever ) than the BBC post race replays which to my mind didn't rule out a touch on her foot? Genuinely interested

I can just repeat there is no doubt Werro tripped herself but surely if that hand ( which was at the very least in the vicinity ) did indeed touch her foot it woudn't need much at all to upset her rythym and potentially cause what happened.

Of course if the evidence dismisses the account given then that would be an awful decision - to put Werro back in there for the hype. I've already had more than enough of FIFA bending rules this summer for unfair sport.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 13th of August 2026 10:29:52 PM