Radio City Music Hall Seating Chart

Parking, bag policy, transit and history are on the main Radio City Music Hall guide.

Reading Radio City's seat map

The short answer: the front rows of the first mezzanine, in the center sections, give the best overall view in the house, and the center orchestra is the pick when being close to a performer matters most.

Radio City's map has four levels: the Orchestra on the ground floor and three balconies, the First, Second and Third Mezzanines. Seating guides divide every level into seven sections numbered 1 through 7 across the width of the house, so a ticket reads as a level plus a number, such as Orchestra 4 or 2nd Mezzanine 6. Section 4 is the middle of each level, and one guide describes sections 3 through 5 as the ones centered on the stage. Sections 1 and 7 are the outer sides.

Two practical consequences follow. First, a section number tells you nothing about height; Orchestra 4 and 3rd Mezzanine 4 are both center, at very different distances. Second, the auditorium fans out toward a stage 144 feet wide, so the side sections are far more angled than the numbering suggests.

The orchestra: row letters, rake and the overhang

The orchestra holds more than half the house. Two seating guides agree on how its rows are lettered: double-letter rows (AA, BB and so on) sit nearest the stage, followed by single-letter rows (A, B, C) farther back. One guide lists Orchestra 4 as running from BB through ZZ and then A through W. A seat in row C is therefore not near the front; it is behind the entire double-letter block.

The floor is gently raked (sloped), and seating guides note that seats are slightly staggered row to row to open sightlines. Even so, the rise between rows is modest, and the stage is high. That produces two weak zones:

• The first double-letter rows look up at the stage at a steep angle, which hides the back of the stage and its scenery, especially from the side sections.
• The rear single-letter rows sit under the First Mezzanine, which cuts off the top of the proscenium arch (the frame around the stage opening) and anything flown or projected above it.

The middle of the orchestra, from the back of the double-letter rows into the first single-letter rows, in sections 3 through 5, avoids both problems. Seating guides also flag seats behind the sound mixing position in the rear center orchestra as partly blocked at concerts.

First, Second and Third Mezzanines

The three mezzanines are shallow by design. They extend over the rear of the orchestra, but none reaches far toward the stage. Seating guides note steps between mezzanine rows that let you see over the person in front, which is why sightlines hold up at every height.

First Mezzanine

The front rows of the First Mezzanine sit in front of the balcony above, so nothing overhead interrupts the view of the ceiling and the arch. This is the band the Rockettes' own seat guide credits with a great view of the Great Stage, and it is the best overall seat in the hall for most productions.

Second Mezzanine

The Second Mezzanine looks down on the full stage. For dance and large-scale staging, its center sections show patterns and formations that are hard to read from the orchestra.

Third Mezzanine

The highest level is the farthest from the stage but still faces it squarely. It works well for spectacle and projection, and less well for a solo acoustic set where facial detail matters.

Within each mezzanine, a center section on a higher level usually beats an outer section on a lower one, because the angle from sections 1 and 7 across a 144-foot stage is severe.

How the room changes by event

The Christmas Spectacular and staged productions

The full proscenium stage is in use, with scenery, projections and large ensemble numbers. The mezzanines gain value here, because the show is built to be seen whole. The Rockettes' seat guide recommends the orchestra for an up-close look, the Second Mezzanine for the dance formations and the Third Mezzanine for the choreography and the projections overhead.

End-stage concerts

For most concerts, the performer plays at the front of the stage and the house stays in its fixed layout. Two seating guides show a pit section that can be added in front of the orchestra for some shows; it is the closest seating in the building when it is sold. Center orchestra and center First Mezzanine are the strongest seats after that.

Comedy and talks

Distance is everything for a comedian. Choose the center orchestra or the front of the First Mezzanine over any higher seat, even at a lower price.

Award shows and televised events

Production blocks and camera positions take over parts of the orchestra. Buy only listings that state the section and row clearly.

Seats to skip and seats that beat their reputation

• Skip: deep rear orchestra. Under the overhang, the top of the stage disappears, which matters most for the Christmas Spectacular.
• Skip: outer sections near the stage. Front rows of sections 1 and 7 on the orchestra floor combine the steep upward angle with a sideways one.
• Skip for concerts: seats right behind the mixing position. Guides flag them as partly blocked.
• Better than expected: the front of the Second Mezzanine, center. It is often easier to buy than the First Mezzanine and keeps a clear, straight-on view.
• Better than expected: the middle orchestra. Many buyers chase the lowest row letter, but the middle of the floor sees more of the stage.

Every order is backed by a 100% guarantee. Read the level name on a listing carefully: "Mezzanine" alone does not say which of the three you are buying.

Accessible seating and getting to the mezzanines

Radio City provides wheelchair seats, designated aisle-transfer seats (aisle seats with a movable armrest for guests who can move from a wheelchair into a fixed seat) and companion seats. The venue also offers seats with movable armrests and larger chairs without armrests for guests who may not fit a standard seat.

• Elevators are on the 51st Street side of the Grand Foyer and serve the First, Second and Third Mezzanines and the Grand Lounge below.
• Wheelchair escorts to your seat are free on request, and staff will store a wheelchair, walker or cane during the show and return it to your seat afterward.
• Assistive listening devices on an FM system are free with a held ID or card.

For accessible tickets, contact the venue's Accessibility Services Department; details are on the Radio City accessibility page. Check it before you buy, since procedures can change by event.

Sources

• Radio City Music Hall: Accessibility Services
• Rockettes: Christmas Spectacular seat map
• RateYourSeats: Radio City Music Hall sections
• RateYourSeats: Orchestra 4
• TickPick: Radio City Music Hall seating chart
• Wikipedia: Radio City Music Hall