Why didn't anyone else show up at the Cell Games?

[Polyphase Avatron]

So I was watching the new DBZA episode and this occurred to me. Cell announced the time and location to the entire world, so wouldn't you have expected more people to show up, even just out of curiosity?

If only the Z-senshi had shown up I could buy that everyone else was too scared, but Mr. Satan (and in the anime, his students too) got in the ring and thought they had a chance, so you would figure a bunch of other amateur fighters might have done the same. Maybe even some familiar faces from the Budokais in part 1? But it was just the Z-senshi, Mr. Satan, and the reporters.

[Anime Kitten]

I'm fairly certain they were only scared, and others didn't know where the ring was, where to look, or it was too far. Something along those lines, perhaps?

[Nejishiki]

Just as some people prefer to watch events live, others prefer to view events through television. Chi-Chi's neighbors opted to do so, but that might be an unfair example considering they were elderly. Would it be more accurate to say it was a combination of inconvenience reaching the venue and fear striking into the hearts of Dragon World after witnessing their Royal Army failing? To their knowledge, Mr. Satan, the victor of the last Tenkaichi Budoukai, was their only hope for peace. Who else but Satan can combat the devil?

[Polyphase Avatron]

But there were probably people around like Nam, Taopaipai, Giran, etc. who were confident enough in their skills to think they could win.

[Black Hawk]

But there were probably people around like Nam, Taopaipai, Giran, etc. who were confident enough in their skills to think they could win.

Perhaps the whole Piccolo-and-his-children fiasco from many years prior taught them that they'd be in way over their heads to try such a thing.

[floofychan333]

Everyone was terrified, they thought Mr Satan would win, and Toriyama probably forgot every single person in the Dragon Ball tournaments.

[Cipher]

You'd think there would be all sorts of nihilistic thrill-seekers showing up to spectate at the very least, wouldn't you?

But who's going to draw all those characters? Also, the small crowd makes it easier for Mr. Satan to claim victory, which is a big part of the series moving forward. And -- in my opinion -- worth the implausibility of so few people showing up to the ring.

Not that I think for a second Toriyama had any major component of the Boo arc planned in advance, but I can believe Mr. Satan convincing everyone he defeated Cell was the plan from at least the first time he appears.

[FoolsGil]

It would have been nice if there were spectator sections, where characters met in Dragonball would show up and watch. Would also sort of made Mark's fame stealing a bit more palatable, if there were other people not blind to his utter stupidity.

[omaro34]

If a lot of people did show up at the Cell Games then they would see with their own eyes that Satan was not the one who beat Cell. Hence Satan's influence in the Buu Arc to get everyone to raise their hands for the Spirit Bomb against Kid Buu wouldn't have happened. Everything has a domino effect.

[Dbzfan94]

Who else could? King Chappa?
Mr. Satan is the strongest human that isn't a Z Fighter and he showed up only to get flicked away like a bug.
As for spectators, pretty sure they were too scared

[Kamiccolo9]

Mr. Satan is the strongest human that isn't a Z Fighter and he showed up only to get flicked away like a bug.

If you ignore the first half of the series, Goku's wife, his own daughter, and, in filler, random old men who appear out of nowhere, then sure.

[Anime Kitten]

If you ignore the first half of the series, Goku's wife, his own daughter, and, in filler, random old men who appear out of nowhere, then sure.

Chi-Chi neglects fighting, Videl was clearly inactive then, and I have no idea who the first and last ones are referring to.

[Kamiccolo9]

If you ignore the first half of the series, Goku's wife, his own daughter, and, in filler, random old men who appear out of nowhere, then sure.

Chi-Chi neglects fighting, Videl was clearly inactive then, and I have no idea who the first and last ones are referring to.

The Budokai fighters in the first few arcs would tear Satan apart. That's not even debatable.

[omaro34]

If you ignore the first half of the series, Goku's wife, his own daughter, and, in filler, random old men who appear out of nowhere, then sure.

Chi-Chi neglects fighting, Videl was clearly inactive then, and I have no idea who the first and last ones are referring to.

The Budokai fighters in the first few arcs would tear Satan apart. That's not even debatable.

Agreed. Nam, Mercenary Tao, Android 8, and King Chappa just to name a few would take Satan out easy. I would go even as far to say that they would beat Videl too.

[Dbzfan94]

Mr. Satan is the strongest human that isn't a Z Fighter and he showed up only to get flicked away like a bug.

If you ignore the first half of the series, Goku's wife, his own daughter, and, in filler, random old men who appear out of nowhere, then sure.

I kinda counted Chi-Chi and Videl in there.
But true I completely forgot about Tao and those guys

[Marco Polo]

But there were probably people around like Nam, Taopaipai, Giran, etc. who were confident enough in their skills to think they could win.

Man that would have been such a great callback (even if they only showed up as spectators).

[simtek34]

The world would probably have remembered Goku if he wasn't a Super Saiyan. If Goku told the world who he was in the buu saga spirit bomb, lots of people would have donated, an fIbeould love to see Nam, Eighter, etc again.

[Gold_Jacobson]

Chi-Chi neglects fighting, Videl was clearly inactive then, and I have no idea who the first and last ones are referring to.

The Budokai fighters in the first few arcs would tear Satan apart. That's not even debatable.

Agreed. Nam, Mercenary Tao, Android 8, and King Chappa just to name a few would take Satan out easy. I would go even as far to say that they would beat Videl too.

I agree. I don't think Videl can kill someone with a tongue to the temple, nor throw a pillar a thousand km and ride it. Tao has to be way stronger.

[Black Hawk]

I agree. I don't think Videl can kill someone with a tongue to the temple, nor throw a pillar a thousand km and ride it. Tao has to be way stronger.

On that note...how plausible is it that other characters from the battle with Taopaipai onward are capable of the same feats? I can easily see several characters at this point riding on a thrown pillar, but...the tongue bit has me uncomfortably curious as to just who else can do that...

[Polyphase Avatron]

I agree. I don't think Videl can kill someone with a tongue to the temple, nor throw a pillar a thousand km and ride it. Tao has to be way stronger.

On that note...how plausible is it that other characters from the battle with Taopaipai onward are capable of the same feats? I can easily see several characters at this point riding on a thrown pillar, but...the tongue bit has me uncomfortably curious as to just who else can do that...

Piccolo could do it, and he could stretch his tongue to do it as well...