Things were pretty exciting at the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, as Hezly Rivera secured the gold medal, closely followed by Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson. However, not every aspect of the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, beamed with success. And the major disappointment was the failed ticket sales. Even on the final days, thousands of seats were left vacant at the venue. But the national champion, Jonathan Horton, has a solution. 

Before everything, let’s see what might have caused the vacancies at the 2025 Xfinity Championships. First of all, the star factors like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles were absent from the line-up. Even though the absence created a massive void, it supplied the rising gymnasts with enough spotlight to shine and claim all the attention. Nevertheless, we have to agree that the star factor of athletes was the one thing that majorly affected attendance at Xfinity Championships in the past.

Back in 2023, news of Biles going up against her teammates from the Paris Olympics, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Sunisa Lee, went viral. And according to Vivid Seats, there was a 98% overnight surge. The ticket price went from $86 to $213. This number was higher than the $209/seat at the 2021 Nationals and the $206/seat at the 2021 women’s trials. Proof that teams like the Magnificent Seven, or the Final Five, or the Golden Girls, were the center of attention at the national events. And their absence is one of the major reasons for the empty seats at the 2025 Xfinity Championships. 

Needless to say, the low ticket sales in New Orleans must have caused a financial setback for the USA Gymnastics. But the two-time U.S. National Champion and Olympic medalist, Jonathan Horton, had an interesting idea. He suggested, “Make tickets $15-$20 a piece and get people in the seats. That’s a simple thing to do and will get people excited about seeing the sport.” 

But would a lower price tag for the tickets have ensured a sold-out arena?

Let’s take a look at the other factors that might have influenced only 20-30% attendance at the Smoothie King Center. 

Absence of Simone Biles and Co. isn’t the only factor for low attendance at the 2025 Xfinity Championships

Another problem with the 2025 Xfinity Championships was the location. There aren’t many gymnastics fans in New Orleans. Only if the 2025 Xfinity Championships were hosted somewhere on the Eastern Coast. The final factor was the price.

Just a day before the commencement of the 2025 Xfinity Championships, the tickets for junior sessions on Ticketmaster were around $21.20, and for senior women’s finals started from $47.25.

Inside Gymnastics shared a note on the pricing of the 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. On the day of the senior women’s finals, the prices ranged from $47.25 to $69.60. And the same was true for men’s divisions, too. Meanwhile, the junior division’s tickets were listed in the range of $20. So, Horton’s suggestion might be something that the officials should note while hosting the 2026 Xfinity Championships in Phoenix, Arizona. 

But the question still remains unanswered. Would there have been a denser crowd in New Orleans had Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and other stars participated in the event? Will the next Xfinity Championships witness better attendance? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.