Our back rows fill up first. In our first service, we only use that back half of the auditorium for the most part. In our second service, the back and middle section fill up first, leaving the front section to those who come in 15-20 minutes late.

It really is interesting how, just as you said - when it's a concert or a show or a game the closer we get the better! But when we come together as Christians we like to spread out as far from each other as we can possibly get.

Why is this one of the ONLY times so many want the back row?

Whenever i'm not preaching on a Sunday and we visit somewhere, i like to be so close i can see the look in the preachers eyes but most of all, to sit as close as we can to our brothers and sisters.

The whole room fills up equally. We are full, and most seats are occupied. That being said, everyone pretty much has their own location to sit.

Maybe the back of the auditorium is the best seat. You don't see movie theatres packed in the first few rows with the back row empty. Maybe the preacher and worship leader just get lonely. :)

Good thoughts. I do know this. Most every place I go, the singing sounds much better in the front than in the back - due mainly because of the design of the room - pointing all the singing forward.
- KL