World Cup stadiums: What's with all the empty seats?

World Cup stadiums have had gaping holes where people should be. South Africans fret that it's a sign that the Cup will not bring the prosperity that they had been promised by FIFA and politicians.

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Overall, attendance over the first four days of matches has been around 584,396, or 92.5 percent of stadium capacity, FIFA says. Five matches, such as the US-England match on Saturday, came close to 100 percent capacity, although FIFA admits that some other matches have been closer to 73 percent attendance.

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“The average attendance so far amounts to 53,126 (the average attendance in 2006 after 11 games was: 52,167),” writes an unnamed FIFA media spokesman by email.

As for the reasons for empty seats, the FIFA official said there are three possible reasons: One, some international and domestic ticket-holders simply didn’t show up. Two, group packages for large tour companies – for games of less interest – did sell, but ticket holders did not come to the stadium on match day. FIFA officials put the blame for that on transport problems, such as bus-links and park-and-ride programs set up by local organizers. Third, the seats closest to the pitch and a majority of view obstructed seats are not sold and in most cases these seats are covered.

Yet, FIFA officials told reporters this weekend that they are looking into the question.

"It looked like a lot of people did not show up at the stadium (for the South Korea-Greece game at Port Elizabeth)," said FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot at a Johannesburg press conference. “We are investigating this."

Transportation for groups to attend matches at more remote locations has not been adequate, Mr. Maingot added, saying “We are making sure this is not the case for other games.”

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