What caused the surplus of vacant seats at the FA Cup semi-final match?

Why were thousands of seats empty at FA Cup semi? Image source, Getty Images Manchester City booked their spot in the FA Cup final with a victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but the semi-final was shadowed by numerous vacant seats in the blue zone of Wembley. Pep Guardiola's squad has been on a remarkable run of success, with the team and its supporters making their way to the national stadium, a neutral ground, for the 29th time since its renovation in 2007. They are set to face Crystal Palace on 17 May. So, is City suffering from 'Wembley fatigue', with fans feeling the strain of frequent visits to the iconic venue? And could a change in semi-final venue for the oldest club competition in the world make a difference? Why are FA Cup semi-finals held at Wembley? Published 6 days ago Man City overcame Nottingham Forest to clinch their spot in third FA Cup final Man City can't 'confuse' season as success - Guardiola Published 3 days ago What was the ticket situation? Manchester City has become accustomed to Wembley as their second home since their triumph in the 2011 FA Cup semi-finals against rivals Manchester United. However, the repeated trips from Manchester to London seem to have taken a toll, with only 72,976 attendees in the 90,000-capacity stadium for Sunday's game. This marked City's seventh consecutive semi-final appearance, and there have been instances during this run, like in 2023 against Sheffield United (69,603) and in 2019 against Brighton (71,521), when attendance was lower. The ticket sales breakdown for this year's semi-finalists were approximately: - Nottingham Forest: 36,000 - Crystal Palace: 35,500 - Aston Villa: 34,000 - Manchester City: 27,000 Factors such as Nottingham Forest's exceptional season, Crystal Palace's London base, and Aston Villa's strong performance under Unai Emery may have influenced these numbers. While reaching Wembley is a rare achievement for most clubs, supporters cherish the opportunity for a memorable day out at the historic venue. One possibility is to give away tickets, but striking a balance between keeping them on sale for fans to purchase and distributing them for free in the local area poses logistical challenges. 'A financial choice' Manchester City fans have highlighted the high ticket prices, ranging from £30 to £150, travel expenses to London, additional costs for food and drink, and a Sunday kick-off at 16:30 BST as key reasons for the empty seats. Kevin Parker, general secretary of City's official supporters' club, noted that the cost of attending multiple matches at Wembley can lead fans to make decisions based on financial considerations. While the passion of supporters was evident after the victory against Nottingham Forest, 'Wembley fatigue' captures the sentiment around the experience, according to Parker. City supporters are planning protests during the Premier League game against Wolves over the club's refusal to increase the number of season-ticket holders. However, the absence of fans at the semi-final was not a result of these protests, explained Parker. Suggestions to relocate the semi-finals from Wembley have also surfaced, with logistical challenges cited due to the busy period for Premier League clubs hosting matches in April. In the end, while moving semi-finals to a neutral ground in the north is discussed, Wembley remains the primary venue due to its capacity to accommodate a larger number of fans for the clubs involved in the competition. Source: bbc manchester, city, wembley, fa, cup