The short answer: it depends on the venue
Row AA can be closer than row A, or much farther away. It depends entirely on how the venue lettered its rows. Some venues add double-letter rows in front of row A, so AA is the front row and row A is several rows back. Others run out of letters at Z and continue with AA, BB and so on behind row Z, so AA is near the back.
There is no industry rule that settles it. The only reliable answer comes from the seating chart for your venue and event, and in some venues the answer changes from one section to the next.
When AA sits in front of row A
Double-letter rows usually end up in front of row A when seats are added closer to the stage, court or ice after the original lettering was set. Rather than reletter the whole building, the venue gives the new rows doubled letters.
- Arena lower bowls: at American Airlines Center in Dallas, the Plaza Level rows begin with double letters. One seating guide describes the order as AA, then BB, then A; another puts row A anywhere from the 4th to the 12th row of a section, with AA to KK in front of it. Either way, AA is the front.
- Theaters with an orchestra pit: the Balboa Theatre in San Diego letters its orchestra from row A at the stage, but notes that two extra rows, AA and BB, may be added in front of row A when a show does not need the pit.
- Theaters that start at AA: the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert publishes a chart where AA is the first row, BB the second, CC the third, DD the fourth, and row A is the fifth.
In all three cases a buyer who assumes "A means front" ends up several rows farther back than expected.
When AA sits behind row Z
Large sections often need more than 26 rows. Many venues handle that by starting over with doubled letters after Z.
- Ballpark lower decks: at PNC Park, the Box Level sections down the baselines have single-letter rows in front and double-letter rows in back, up to about 32 rows. Seating guides note the double-letter rows are close to the concourse and under the deck above.
- Stadium upper decks: at Lumen Field, upper-level sideline sections run from row A to Z and continue with double letters near the top.
- Performing arts halls: McCaw Hall in Seattle states on its seating FAQ that row A is the first row of each section and that rows AA, BB and CC are at the back of sections 1, 2 and 3.
Here row AA is one of the last rows in the section, and a ticket marked AA is the opposite of a front-row seat.
Other row labels that trip buyers up
- Numbered rows that do not start at 1: some sections begin at a higher number because the front rows were removed for a stage, a camera position or wheelchair platforms. At Intuit Dome, seating guides list a Wall section with rows starting at 17.
- Rows that change by event: the first rows of a lower bowl section can be covered or removed for a concert or a hockey game. At American Airlines Center, row A of the Plaza Level becomes the glass row for Stars games.
- Walkway breaks: some stadium sections have a cross aisle partway up, with a short run of rows below it and the main block above. A low letter does not always mean the bottom of the full section.
- Letters with suffixes: wheelchair and companion rows are often marked with a letter or a W, such as row 13W, and may sit at the top of a section.
How to check before you buy
- Open the event's seating chart, not a generic one. Floor layouts, pits and added rows change by show. The seat map on the event page is the one that matches your tickets.
- Look at the section's full row range. Hover or tap the section. If the range reads something like AA to KK and then A to Z, the double letters are in front. If it reads A to Z and then AA to HH, they are in back.
- Count, do not guess. If you care about distance, count the rows in front of yours. Row C behind five double-letter rows is the eighth row.
- Check fan photos from your row. A photo from the same row shows what the letter actually means. Seat view tools compared lists where to find them.
- Read the listing notes. Terms such as front row, obstructed or limited view are more reliable than a row letter alone.
The broader skills of reading levels, sections and seat numbers are in How to Read a Seating Chart.
Frequently asked questions
Is row AA closer than row A?
Sometimes. At venues that added rows in front of the original row A, such as some arena lower bowls and theaters, AA is closer. At venues that continue lettering after Z, AA is behind row Z and much farther back.
Why do some venues have row AA in front of row A?
Usually because seats were added closer to the stage, court or ice after the rows were first lettered. Giving the new rows doubled letters avoids relabeling every seat in the building.
Is row A always the front row?
No. Some sections start with double-letter rows, some start at a higher letter or number because front rows were removed, and some events add or cover rows. Check the event's own seating chart.
What does row AA mean in a theater?
In many theaters AA is a row added in front of row A, often over an orchestra pit, but some halls use AA, BB and CC at the back of a section. The venue's seating chart tells you which.
How can I tell how far back my row is?
Look at the section's full row range on the event seat map and count the rows in front of yours, then compare with a fan photo taken from the same row.