seated capacity

The seated capacity of a structure is the maximum number of persons it can accommodate in its fixed and regularly-installed temporary seating.

A capacity is a limit rather than a count. It comes from the building code, the fire regulations or the seating installed, so it changes when a rule or a fitting changes and not when use changes.

It is normally well above the number of people actually present. Comparing it with a population figure measures how full the building is and not whether either number is wrong.

Where a place has both seats and standing room, the seated figure and the full figure are different numbers and each has its own field.