Empty seats and operational complaints put pressure on Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers

Organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have acknowledged that large sections of empty seating are undermining the atmosphere at some competitions, while also apologising to teams over accommodation and transport problems during the event in Japan.

The admission came on Saturday, September 26, after the 30,000-capacity Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya appeared to be only about one-quarter full during Friday night’s 100-metre sprint events, according to an AFP report carried by eNCA. The stadium also hosted Japan’s Misaki Morota as she won the women’s pole vault, but the home crowd remained sparse.

Satoshi Murate, secretary-general of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and Asian Para Games Organizing Committee, said the organisers were “not satisfied” and would continue selling tickets while trying to ensure that people who had secured seats attended events.

Sales stronger than attendance

The organising committee said fewer than 60 percent of tickets had been sold for eight sports, including football. A similar proportion of tickets for the closing ceremony remained unsold eight days before the event, which is scheduled for October 4. The Games began on September 19 and are being held across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya. (aichi-nagoya2026.org)

Murate said more than 90 percent of tickets for the opening ceremony had been sold, but attributed the visible gaps in the stands partly to no-shows. He also pointed to sessions featuring several matches on the same day, saying spectators often concentrated on the headline contest. Tickets distributed to stakeholders, including sponsors, were also not always used, he said.

That distinction matters: the empty seats do not necessarily represent the total number of tickets sold. They reflect a combination of unsold tickets and allocated seats that were not occupied, according to the organisers’ explanation.

Teams raise separate concerns

Murate also apologised for what he described as mistakes involving accommodation and transport. The Games have more than 17,000 participants, but organisers did not build a traditional athletes’ village. Teams have instead been accommodated in hotels, temporary container-style units and the Costa Serena cruise ship.

The arrangement has been accompanied by reports of room shortages, airport delays and long waits to board the cruise ship. Some competitors’ buses to training sessions and venues have reportedly arrived late or failed to appear.

The AFP report said Thailand described the organisation as chaotic, while South Korea said the organisers deserved a failing grade. Those assessments remain attributed statements from teams rather than independently established findings.

“Whatever the cause, AINAGOC is responsible for providing the service,” Murate said, according to AFP, adding that staff were investigating the causes of individual failures.

What to watch next

The immediate test for organisers is whether attendance improves during the remaining competitions and whether ticket sales increase before the October 4 closing ceremony. The committee will also face continued scrutiny over transport reliability and the distribution of accommodation among participating teams.

Murate’s current position as secretary-general of the organising committee is confirmed by the official Aichi-Nagoya Games website. (aichi-nagoya2026.org)

What remains unclear is the final attendance at individual venues, the scale of unused stakeholder allocations and whether the reported operational problems have affected competition schedules or athlete preparation. Those figures may only become available after the Games conclude.

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