But he also accepted responsibility for the sparse attendance by Queens residents, which officials attributed to a lack of publicity.

The only observable problem was a somewhat sparse attendance of some early events.

Smaller art films attract some international attention but sparse attendance at home.

The sparse attendance gave the Cyclone's seasonal initiates an aura of importance.

Just as I was wondering at the sparse attendance on a usually busy Saturday afternoon, an attractive young couple wandered in.

Still, the sparse attendance was seen by many as another sign of Mr. Arafat's crumbling authority.

But considering the sparse attendance it drew in that city of 30,000, he said the departure was "not a surprise."

Monday brought another very sparse attendance, though the noise level was punishing, thanks to the non-stop chanting of the Pakistan supporters by the scoreboard.

But no amount of advance planning can disguise the promoters' fear of sparse attendance.

Most of them have several jobs anyway and they pocket their £65K for patchy and sparse attendance in the House.