You salivate at the very idea of it. Sitting in the front row at the fifty yard line for the big football game is every fan’s dream, right? The idea of being so close to the action is irresistible. As you shop for tickets, you find a broker who has a pair of seats right there. Midfield. Row one. Buy them, right?
Not necessarily.
The front row ticket often isn’t the best ticket. In many cases, it is actually quite inferior to other options. It may sound ridiculous to casual fans who don’t get “right down in front” often, but you may end up happier with seats a little bit higher up.
Here’s why…
First, front row tickets may limit your vision of the entire playing field (or stage if attending a concert). Sitting at mid-court may seem like a good idea, but you could end up with blind spots on your side of the court at a basketball game. The corners of the end zone might be invisible at a football game.
Second, getting close to the action invariably trades off with perspective. Did you know the seats offering the best persepective at most events are the ones on the second level (often referred to as the “club” level). That’s because those seats extend over the lower level but are up high enough to provide a panoramic view of the action.
Third, there is such a thing as being too close to the participants. Being at the fifty for a playoff game sounds great, but it gets annoying when you find yourself staring at the back of the third-string defensive lineman for three hours. Oh, and there’s nothing more annoying than trying to get a view of the action when the television truck is rolling right in front of your face!
Fourth, particularly at concerts, the first row experience can be a lot like sitting in the first row at the movies. Bring your Tylenol, because a sore neck is likely after staring upwards for the whole show! If you are up a little higher, you won’t have to act like a stargazer while gazing at your favorite singing star!
There are advantages to the first row. If you’re taking photographs, it’s wonderful. If you are just dying to hear the crash of the shoulder pads or the squeak of sneakers, there is nothing quite like it.
In many cases, however, you can get a better view by scooting up a little bit. To make matters even better, not everyone knows this. As a professional ticket broker, I learned that first row seats always commanded a premium price even when better views were available. That’s because so many people are absolutely convinced they need to be in Row One. You can save a few bucks by moving up while actually improving your experience!
The next time you are ticket shopping, don’t worry too much about finding your way into the front row!
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