Picking a specific section, row and seat brings its own vocabulary. Seating charts, listings and venue maps use terms such as rake, sightline, mezzanine and limited view, and the same word can carry a different meaning at a ballpark, an arena or a Broadway house. This Reserved Seat glossary explains those terms in plain language so a seat can be judged before it is bought.
Entries that tie to a longer Reserved Seat guide link to it for more detail. Rules on bags, re-entry and refunds differ from venue to venue and are revised over time, so confirm the current policy with the venue before the event.
A
- Accessible seating
- Locations built for guests who use a wheelchair or who have mobility, hearing or vision needs, typically paired with a seat for a companion. The seating map shows where they are, and the box office or primary seller handles their sale.
- Aisle seat
- The last seat in a row, beside the stairway. Getting out for food or the restroom is simpler from here, though people walking the steps can briefly cross the view.
- Alcohol-free section
- An area of seating where drinking alcohol, or bringing it in, is not permitted. Many ballparks and stadiums set one aside for families and anyone who wants a dry environment.
- All-in pricing
- Displaying a ticket's complete cost, mandatory fees included, starting with the very first price shown. A Federal Trade Commission rule that requires total-price disclosure for live-event tickets became effective on May 12, 2025. See Ticket Fees Explained.
- Amphitheater
- An open-air venue where seating or a grass lawn climbs in a half circle facing a roofed stage. Touring concerts fill many of them from late spring into early fall.
- Arena
- An enclosed venue, commonly holding roughly 10,000 to 20,000 people, designed for basketball, hockey and concerts. Seats ring a floor that crews can convert between events. See Arena vs. Stadium.
B
- Bag check
- A service, free at some venues and paid at others, typically located outside the entrance, that stores bags not permitted under the bag policy. Some venues have none, so confirm availability before bringing a bag that will not pass. See Stadium Bag Policies.
- Balcony
- An upper seating level in a theater or concert hall, positioned over the mezzanine. Seats up here generally sit on a steeper slope and at a greater distance from the stage.
- Barcode
- The code on a ticket that staff scan to admit the holder. Many mobile tickets use a code that changes every few seconds, which means a screenshot of it will fail at the gate. See How Mobile Ticket Transfer Works.
- Behind home plate
- Baseball seating located straight back from the catcher, giving a view that follows each pitch toward the batter. Fans in the first rows watch through a safety net. See The Best Seats at a Baseball Game.
- Bleachers
- Bench-style seating, frequently backless, most often found in a ballpark's outfield. These seats tend to be some of the cheaper options and are commonly exposed to direct sun. See The Best Seats at a Baseball Game.
- BOTS Act
- The Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016, a federal statute that makes it illegal to use software to bypass ticket purchase limits or security controls. Enforcement falls to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Box office
- The ticket window operated by the venue itself, where people buy tickets face to face and collect will-call orders. Opening hours differ, and many windows operate only when an event is scheduled.
- Box seats
- Compact seating areas separated from the main sections, such as the side boxes of a theater or the field boxes of a ballpark. From a theater box, the stage is frequently seen from a steep side angle.
- Broker
- A company that purchases tickets in bulk and resells them on the secondary market. For in-demand events, brokers provide a large portion of the resale supply. See Are Resale Tickets Legit?.
C
- Camping pass
- An add-on to a festival ticket that allows overnight stays at or close to the site, with options ranging from tent plots to car camping and ready-made tents. It is normally purchased apart from the main festival pass. See Music Festivals.
- Capacity
- How many people a venue can accommodate for a particular event. The number shifts with the layout, so a stadium may list one figure for football and another for concerts. See NFL Stadiums by Capacity.
- Center section
- A block of seats directly facing the middle of the stage, court or field. It offers a straight-on view with no angle, which is why center sections usually cost more than the sections beside them.
- Clear-bag policy
- A rule at some venues permitting only see-through bags up to a specified size, along with a small clutch. As of 2026, NFL stadiums permit clear bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches. See Stadium Bag Policies.
- Club level
- A tier of seats, commonly located between the lower and upper decks, offering roomier seats plus entry to an exclusive indoor lounge and food service. See The Best Seats at an NFL Game.
- Companion seat
- A regular seat placed beside a wheelchair location so that someone accompanying the guest can sit with them.
- Complimentary ticket
- A free ticket provided by a team, performer, producer or venue, commonly known as a comp. Comps are drawn from held inventory rather than offered for public sale.
- Configuration
- The layout a venue uses for a given event, for example an end-stage concert, an in-the-round show or a basketball game. It determines which seats go on sale and which ones offer the strongest views. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
- Consecutive seats
- Seats placed side by side in the same row, so a group can sit together. When a listing does not state that its seats are consecutive, confirm before buying.
- Corner section
- A section where the side seating meets the end seating, such as the corners of a hockey rink or football stadium. The view is diagonal, and prices often fall between sideline and end sections.
- Courtside
- Floor-level seats along the edge of a basketball court. No seats in the arena are closer, and they typically carry the highest prices. See Floor Seats vs. Lower Bowl.
- Curfew
- The deadline by which a performance has to finish, frequently imposed by local regulations at outdoor venues. It limits the length of the headliner's set.
D
- Dark day
- A day on which a theater holds no show. Monday is the dark day for many Broadway productions, but each show sets its own schedule. See Broadway.
- Delivery method
- The way a buyer receives a ticket, for example by mobile transfer, electronic download, will call or a wristband sent by mail. A resale listing names the method along with the date delivery is expected. See How Mobile Ticket Transfer Works.
- Doors
- The time when the venue begins admitting ticket holders, typically at least an hour ahead of the opening performer. It appears as a separate time from the show start. See First Concert Tips.
- Dugout
- The recessed bench area beside each baseline where a baseball team sits during the game. Home fans often seek out seats close to the home team's dugout. See The Best Seats at a Baseball Game.
- Dynamic pricing
- Pricing that moves up or down with demand, much like airfare. Both primary sellers and resale marketplaces apply it, so one seat can cost more or less depending on when it is bought. See When Do Ticket Prices Drop?.
E
- Early entry
- A perk, sold as an add-on or included in a package, that admits ticket holders ahead of the general doors time, often so they can secure a place close to the stage in a general admission area.
- End stage
- A concert layout that places the stage at one end of an arena or stadium. Sections behind the stage are typically closed or sold with a limited-view label. See The Best Seats at a Concert.
- End zone
- The scoring zone at either end of a football field, along with the seats behind it. From these sections, plays heading toward the fan are easy to follow, while action at the opposite end is harder to judge. See The Best Seats at an NFL Game.
F
- Face value
- The original price the primary seller set or printed on a ticket, not counting fees. A resale ticket may sell for more or less than this amount. See Are Resale Tickets Legit?.
- Fan club presale
- An early ticket sale open only to members of a performer's or team's fan club, generally accessed with a code linked to the member's account.
- Festival pass
- A ticket that admits the holder to a festival site for a single day or for the whole event, instead of to an assigned seat. Festivals frequently sell passes in levels such as GA, GA+ and VIP. See Music Festivals.
- Floor seats
- Seats or standing space on the flat ground level of an arena or stadium in front of the stage. The trade-off for proximity is a level view, where taller people ahead can hide the stage. See Floor Seats vs. Lower Bowl.
- Foul pole
- The tall upright pole marking the end of each foul line in a ballpark. Seats next to it or behind it may have part of the view blocked. See The Best Seats at a Baseball Game.
- Front mezzanine
- The opening rows of a theater's raised mezzanine level. From here the whole stage picture is visible, which makes these rows a popular pick for big musicals. See Broadway.
- Front row
- The row closest to the stage, field or court in a section or tier. In an upper tier, the front row can have a safety railing in the line of sight, so being first is not always the same as having the clearest view.
G
- GA+
- A premium general admission level sold by some festivals, which adds perks such as a dedicated entrance, shaded lounge areas or upgraded restrooms. See Music Festivals.
- General admission
- A ticket that admits the holder to an area with no assigned seating, often shortened to GA. Places are claimed in order of arrival, so showing up early determines how good the view is. See The Best Seats at a Concert.
- Glass seats
- The first row of seating at a hockey game, pressed right up to the protective glass surrounding the ice.
- Grandstand
- A big seating structure, frequently covered by a roof, found at ballparks, racetracks, and golf or tennis tournaments. In some older ballparks, grandstand seats may be located behind support columns.
H
- Headliner
- The top-billed performer at a concert or festival, who generally takes the stage last and plays the longest set.
- Hold
- A ticket withheld from the public sale for the performer, team, promoter or venue. A portion of held seats may go on sale as the event approaches.
- Hospitality package
- A ticket combined with added benefits such as premium seating, food and beverages, parking or a pregame gathering. These packages are widespread at major events such as the Super Bowl. See Super Bowl.
- House seats
- Top-quality theater seats that producers or the theater reserve for VIPs and guests of the cast and creative team. When they go unused, house seats are occasionally put on sale.
I
- In the round
- A concert layout that puts the stage at the center of the floor with seating on all sides, so no section sits behind the stage. See The Best Seats at a Concert.
- In-hand date
- The date a resale seller expects to possess the tickets and send them to the buyer. Sales made ahead of that date rely on the seller's commitment to deliver.
- Infield
- At a baseball game, the seating zone running from first base to third base, nearest to most of the play. At a racetrack, the term refers to the space inside the oval. See The Best Seats at a Baseball Game.
L
- Lawn seats
- Grassy general admission areas at amphitheaters, typically located behind the reserved seating. The lawn offers a relaxed setting and is frequently the cheapest choice, though the stage is far away.
- Limited view
- A label on a seat indicating that part of the stage, field or video screens is hidden or visible only from a sharp angle. These seats generally sell for less. See Obstructed and Limited View Seats.
- Listing
- One ticket, or a set of tickets, posted for sale on a marketplace, with the section, row, number of tickets, price and delivery method displayed.
- Loge
- A name used for a premium seating area. Its meaning depends on the venue and can refer to the front of the mezzanine, a tier of semi-private boxes or a middle seating deck.
- Lottery
- A random draw for the chance to purchase tickets, used for discounted Broadway seats and for certain high-demand events. Winners are given a short window to complete payment. See Broadway.
- Lower bowl
- The first tier of seating sections rising above the field, court or floor, typically given 100-level numbers. It combines proximity with a raised view. See Floor Seats vs. Lower Bowl.
M
- Matinee
- A performance held during the day, most commonly in theater. On Broadway, matinees are frequently scheduled on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Mezzanine
- A raised seating level positioned between the main floor and the higher tiers. In a theater it sits over the orchestra, while in a stadium it is frequently a middle level. See Broadway.
- Mobile ticket
- A ticket kept in an app or digital wallet and scanned from a smartphone. A growing number of venues accept no other kind. See How Mobile Ticket Transfer Works.
N
- National tour
- A traveling production of a Broadway show that visits a sequence of cities, generally remaining in each for one week or longer. See Theater.
- Nosebleed seats
- A casual name for the seats that sit highest and farthest from the action, generally in the upper deck.
O
- Obstructed view
- A seat where an object physically blocks part of the view, for example a pillar, railing, overhang, camera platform or audio gear. The listing should tell buyers about it. See Obstructed and Limited View Seats.
- On-sale
- The date and time when tickets first become available to the general public, following any presales. See Buying Event Tickets.
- Opening act
- A performer who takes the stage ahead of the headliner, also known as the opener or support act.
- Orchestra
- The main floor seating area of a theater, nearest to the stage. Seats in the center of the orchestra typically cost the most in the house. See Broadway.
- Overhang
- The bottom of an upper seating tier that projects above the rows beneath it. Seats below it stay shaded and protected from weather but may lose sight of high fly balls, scoreboards or the upper part of a stage set. See Obstructed and Limited View Seats.
P
- Parking pass
- A ticket that reserves or prepays a parking space in a particular lot for an event. At some venues, parking can be bought only ahead of time.
- Partial view
- An alternate name for limited view, describing a seat from which some of the performance area cannot be seen. See Obstructed and Limited View Seats.
- Personal seat license
- A one-time payment that grants the owner the right to purchase season tickets for a particular seat, a model used by many NFL teams and certain college programs. It is commonly shortened to PSL.
- Pit
- A general admission standing area right in front of a concert stage, sometimes sold on a separate ticket from the remainder of the floor.
- Platinum tickets
- A name some primary ticket sellers give to seats whose prices rise and fall with demand. The primary seller offers them directly, so they are not resale tickets. See When Do Ticket Prices Drop?.
- Playoffs
- The postseason competition that comes after a league's regular season. Tickets for playoff games often go on sale with little warning, once opponents and home games are determined. See NFL Playoffs.
- A broad label for seats that include added amenities, such as club seats, suites, courtside seats and field-level clubs.
- Presale
- A sale that takes place ahead of the general on-sale for a restricted group, such as fan club members, credit card holders or registered fans. A sizable portion of the best seats can be sold during presales. See Buying Event Tickets.
- Presale code
- A password that grants access to a presale. Fan clubs, mailing lists, credit card programs and venue newsletters hand out these codes.
- Primary market
- The initial sale of tickets, handled by the team, venue or promoter, or by the ticketing company working for them. See Buying Event Tickets.
- Proscenium
- The arch framing the stage in a traditional theater. In a proscenium theater, the whole audience faces the stage from a single side.
- Purchase limit
- The highest number of tickets a single buyer is allowed to buy for an event, which the primary seller sets so tickets reach a wider group of fans.
R
- Railing
- A barrier along the front of a tier, an aisle or a walkway. Seats directly behind a railing can have a bar crossing the view, a common reason a seat is labeled limited view.
- Rain or shine
- A policy indicating that an outdoor event will proceed whatever the weather. Rain by itself generally does not qualify a ticket for a refund.
- Rake
- The slope of a seating area, with each row set higher than the one in front. A steeper rake helps viewers see over the heads ahead, while a shallow or flat floor gives less height between rows.
- Re-entry policy
- A venue rule covering whether ticket holders can exit and then return. Re-entry is not permitted at many venues. See Event Day: What to Know Before You Go.
- Rear mezzanine
- The rows at the back of a theater's mezzanine. They sit farther from the stage but frequently cost less than seats in the front mezzanine. See Broadway.
- Refund
- Money paid back for a ticket. The rules for primary sellers and resale marketplaces differ, and eligibility generally turns on whether the event is canceled, postponed or relocated.
- Resale
- A ticket sale made by someone other than the original seller, also known as the secondary market. The seller sets the price, which can land above or below face value. See Are Resale Tickets Legit?.
- Residency
- A series of performances by a single artist at one venue spanning weeks or months, a format common in Las Vegas. See Sphere.
- RFID wristband
- A cloth or plastic band containing a chip that is scanned at the entrance, serving as the ticket at many festivals. It is frequently shipped ahead of the event and may require online registration. See Music Festivals.
- Row
- A line of seats inside a section, labeled with a letter or a number. Row 1 or Row A typically sits nearest the stage or field, although some venues begin with labels like AA. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
- Row lettering
- The system a venue uses to name rows. Many theaters use letters, and some skip letters such as I and O to avoid confusion with numbers, so the row count cannot always be read from the letter alone.
- Rush
- Reduced-price tickets offered on the day of a show, sold at the box office or through an app. Rush tickets are a Broadway staple, and only a small number are available. See Broadway.
S
- Season tickets
- A bundle of tickets covering every home game, or a set portion of them, in the same seats. Holders frequently receive priority access to playoff tickets.
- Seat number
- The number that identifies one seat in a row. Some venues number seats in sequence across a section, while others put odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
- Seating chart
- A diagram of a venue that shows its sections and levels and, in many cases, the rows and seat numbers for a particular layout. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
- Secondary market
- The resale marketplace, where fans and brokers sell tickets they have previously purchased. See Are Resale Tickets Legit?.
- Section
- A block of seats identified by a number or name. The number generally signals the level, so section 112 is usually found on the lower level and section 312 on a higher one. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
- Service fee
- A charge the seller adds to the ticket price for handling an order. The FTC's 2025 rule requires mandatory fees to be built into the total price displayed. See Ticket Fees Explained.
- Shaded seats
- Seats protected from direct sun by a roof, overhang or the angle of the stands. At outdoor day games, shade can matter as much as distance from the field.
- Side stage
- Seats off to the left or right of a concert stage, near the performers but watching from an angle. Some carry a limited-view label. See Obstructed and Limited View Seats.
- Sideline
- The two long edges of a football field, where sections located between the 20-yard lines offer the most even view of the game. See The Best Seats at an NFL Game.
- Sightline
- The path of vision from a seat to the stage, field or court. A good sightline is free of railings, heads, overhangs and equipment. See View From Your Seat.
- Single-game tickets
- Tickets for an individual game, in contrast to season tickets or multi-game plans. They typically go on sale once season ticket holders have been taken care of.
- Sold out
- A status indicating the primary seller has run out of tickets for an event. Tickets can still turn up on the resale market. See Are Resale Tickets Legit?.
- Speculative listing
- A resale listing for tickets the seller does not own yet, offered on a promise to acquire them later. Certain states limit or prohibit this practice.
- Stadium
- A large open-air or covered venue, generally holding 40,000 or more people, designed for football, baseball or soccer and also booked for major concert tours. See Arena vs. Stadium.
- Stage left and stage right
- Directions described from the viewpoint of a performer looking out at the audience. Stage left is on the audience's right side.
- Standing room
- Tickets for a place to stand instead of a seat, often shortened to SRO. On Broadway, standing room is generally located at the rear of the orchestra and offered when a show has sold out. See Broadway.
- Student section
- A group of seats at a college venue set aside for enrolled students, frequently the noisiest area of the stadium or arena.
- Suite
- A private room with seating that looks out over the event, generally with food and beverage service included. Suites are sold to groups, frequently for an entire season or a single event.
- Sun side
- The part of an outdoor venue that faces the sun during a day or early evening event. Seats there can be hot and bright, and fans may face glare depending on the time of day.
T
- Tailgating
- A pregame get-together in a stadium parking lot, where food and drinks are served from cars and trucks. Tailgating rules differ from venue to venue and can change, so confirm them ahead of time. See Event Day: What to Know Before You Go.
- Ticket scam
- A fraudulent ticket transaction, such as a counterfeit or duplicate ticket or a listing for tickets that are not real. Buying through a marketplace that offers a guarantee and paying by credit card lowers the risk. See How to Avoid Ticket Scams.
- Ticket transfer
- Moving a mobile ticket from one account to another using the app of the team, venue or ticketing company. Resale orders are frequently delivered by this method. See How Mobile Ticket Transfer Works.
- TKTS
- Discount ticket booths operated by the nonprofit Theatre Development Fund that sell same-day theater tickets, with booths in Times Square and at Lincoln Center. See Broadway.
U
- Upgrade
- An add-on that moves a ticket into a better seat or tier, or attaches perks such as early entry or lounge access.
- Upper deck
- The top seating tier in a stadium or arena, commonly carrying 300-level or 400-level numbers. Seats here are more distant but show the entire field and typically cost less. See How to Read a Seating Chart.
V
- Verified fan
- A presale method based on advance registration, in which fans sign up ahead of time and chosen registrants are given the chance to buy. Verified Fan is the name Ticketmaster uses for its version.
- View from seat
- A photo or rendering showing what can be seen from a particular section or row. Comparing these views helps a buyer judge distance, angle and possible obstructions before choosing a seat.
- VIP package
- A ticket combined with extras such as premium seating, early entry, merchandise or a pre-show experience. What is included differs greatly from one artist or event to the next.
- Virtual queue
- An online waiting area that holds buyers in line before admitting them to a high-traffic sale, frequently assigning positions randomly at the start time.
W
- Will call
- A pickup window at the venue where buyers retrieve tickets held under their name, generally by showing a photo ID and the card used for payment. See Event Day: What to Know Before You Go.
Y
- 50-yard line
- The line that splits an American football field in half. Sideline seating close to it gives an even look at both ends, so sections between the two 20-yard lines tend to draw the most demand. See The Best Seats at an NFL Game.