[barrkel]

If you have pre-allocated seating, the cinema may have to employ people to ensure people are sitting in the right place (at least, people will want someone to complain to if someone else stole their seat).

But more importantly, pre-allocated seats encourages people to show up late to the screening and miss the ads and trailers, and potentially even miss out on the concession stand. If you don't have pre-allocated seats, you need to turn up early to be assured of a good seat; and what are you going to do in the (initially darkened) cinema waiting by yourself, if not consume some snacks that you bought.

The cinemas around me (London) charge extra for the privilege of pre-allocation.

[Aqwis]

> If you have pre-allocated seating, the cinema may have to employ people to ensure people are sitting in the right place (at least, people will want someone to complain to if someone else stole their seat).

Is this really a problem? All cinemas in Norway (that I know of) have pre-allocated seating, but there is never anybody who ensures that people sit in the right place. If you find that someone is sitting in your seat, you simply tell them to move. I've never heard of anyone refusing to move.

[randallsquared]

> All cinemas in Norway (that I know of) have pre-allocated seating

I've watched movies in cinemas all over North America, and the only one that ever had numbered seating was a dinner-and-a-movie place where your seat was used to keep track of your order.

[uxp]

Nearly all the "stadium" seating theaters around me in Utah use numbered seating for every movie for at least it's first opening week, but they're largely all owned by one guy (well, his corporation, as he personally passed away a few years ago). It's more of a courtesy so larger families and groups can manage to pick up seats together, but it's still enforced if it needs to be.

[barrkel]

Probably a big-city problem.

[tomjen3]

At my local cinema you can select your seat when you reserve tickets.

I don't go there much since it is too expensive and it isn't kept clean but at least the seats are numbered.

The local cinema were we use to live didn't have numbered seats and was much more cozy.