Nosebleed section: History and Key Facts

The nosebleed section is a colloquial expression designating the seats of a public area‍—‍‌typically an athletic stadium, gymnasium or theater‍—‍‌that are highest up, furthest from the desired activity, and (typically) cheapest. A common tongue-in-cheek reference to having seats in the upper tiers of a stadium (sometimes described as being in the rafters, although this word technically describes a structure with a specific function) is "sitting in the nosebleed section", or "nosebleed seats". The reference alludes to the tendency for mountain climbers to suffer nosebleeds at high altitudes.

The term appeared in print as early as 1953 when it was used to describe the last row in the end zone at Philadelphia's Municipal Stadium (later John F. Kennedy Stadium) during that year's Army-Navy American football game.

Source and attribution

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