knothole section

English

Etymology

From knothole +‎ section.

Noun

knothole section (plural knothole sections)

1. (colloquial, especially baseball) The section of cheap seats in a stadium favored by youth spectators.
   • 1987, Richard Miller, Gregory L. Rhodes, “The Life and Times of the Old Cincinnati Ballparks”, in Queen City Heritage‎^[1], volume 45, number 2, Cincinnati Historical Society, pages 25–41:

     The regular Knothole section was in the right field pavilion, but sometimes the left field pavilion was open as well. The two sections would compete to see which one could root the loudest. After 1938 the Knotholers sat in the upper deck of the pavilions and stomped their feet on the metal floor until the noise reached a deafening crescendo. The teams played more and more night games after World War II, and as a result, Knothole days became fewer and fewer.

   • 2003, Ron Maly, Tales from the Iowa Sidelines, Sports Publishing, →ISBN, page viii:

     The next year, I sat in the Knothole section for the Northwestern game. Iowa won that day, too, 28–21. Within a few years, I went from kid-in-the-Knothole-section to photographer’s spotter on the sideline during Evashevski’s outstanding seasons.

   • 2006, William Teten, Very Truly, Tudey: An Austin Anthology‎^[2], Old Austin Press, →ISBN, page 57:

     … mission in the north end zone, affectionately called The Knothole Section (TKS). Elementary and junior and senior high school students by the thousands filled the cheap seats and not only for the game. It was a social happening, because sanctioned gathering spots for kids were scarce.

   • 2017 October 15, Terry Hutchens, Bill Murphy, Indiana Hoosiers Fans' Bucket List, Triumph Books, →ISBN, page 173:

     This collector explained how as a young boy he dove for the balls when thrown into the stands at the knothole section.

Synonyms

• (section of cheap seats): cheap seats, bleachers, nosebleed seats