My friend reserved a huge lawn area at an outdoor concert for people who arrived late

A friend and I arrived early for a free outdoor concert and found space on the lawn. She unfolded two large blankets and placed empty chairs around them for eight people who planned to arrive after dinner. For the first hour, only the two of us occupied an area that could have held several groups.

As the lawn filled, people asked whether the open spots were available. My friend said they were taken. One family squeezed behind us with a partially blocked view. Another couple moved away after she pointed to chairs whose owners were still across town.

The late group arrived halfway through the opening act. By then, my friend felt vindicated because every chair was eventually used. I remained uncomfortable with the idea that arriving early allowed two people to remove a large piece of public space from use for an indefinite period.

She compared it to saving seats in a theater. I think the scale matters. Holding one chair for someone buying food is different from building a temporary border around eight absent guests while hundreds of people search for space.

Nobody violated a posted rule. The concert encouraged blankets and low chairs, and the lawn did not have assigned places. That freedom depends partly on people using only what their present group reasonably needs.

For another event, I would save one nearby spot and let late arrivals find us within the available space. If sitting together is essential, the group can arrive together or buy reserved seating elsewhere.

How much space is reasonable to hold at a general-admission event? Does eventual use justify a long reservation, or should public space follow the people who are actually present?