Empty seats have been a constant feature of the early phase of the Copa América. Fans have filled 71% of stadium capacity so far (and only 64% in the first six games). Everyone involved has praised the Copa América as a competition equivalent to the European Championship, but its optics contrast sharply with the Euro, where stadiums are always completely full.
Fans have been quick to point the finger at high ticket prices as the main issue. The entry price for the opening match of the tournament was over $500. Some games start at $55 (excluding fees), but others, like Venezuela-Mexico, started much higher, at $119, on Ticketmaster. Tickets for the semifinal match to be held in New Jersey start at $360.00. For the semifinal to be held in North Carolina, tickets start at $175 on Ticketmaster.
It’s a high price to pay for any casual fan. With the games being played in large NFL stadiums, the high prices cannot be attributed to a limited supply of seats.
The Copa América also had high ticket prices, along with an abundance of empty seats the last time the event was held in the U.S., in 2016. But that tournament, averaging about 46,000 fans at each game, surpassed the average of the 2019 tournament in Brazil – averaging 34,651 fans per match.
At the same time it deals with half-empty stadiums, the Copa América is also receiving complaints from players about the temporary pitches. Argentina and Canada called the opening stadium’s field “too bumpy,” “empty,” and “a disaster.” The coach of Peru said that the Dallas stadium’s pitch may have caused an Achilles tendon injury to one of his players.
Attendance and stadium capacity in the first six matches:
• Argentina-Canada: 70,564 fans, capacity for 71,000 people at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Peru-Chile: 43,030 fans, capacity for 80,000 people at AT&T Stadium
• Ecuador-Venezuela: 29,864 fans, capacity for 68,500 people at Levi’s Stadium
• Mexico-Jamaica: 53,763 fans, capacity for 72,200 people at NRG Stadium
• USA-Bolivia: 47,873 fans, capacity for 80,000 people at AT&T Stadium
• Uruguay vs. Panama: 33,425 fans, capacity for 65,300 people at Hard Rock Stadium
Source: Front Office Sports