Larger opera seats are needed for an … expanding audience

San Francisco Opera has installed bigger seats for its, er, growing audience.

Tonight, as you settle in to enjoy our opening night production of “Tosca,” you may notice something different. Gone are the 1932 chairs, with their unruly springs and quicksand texture. You might find yourself relaxing into your seat, stretching your legs and feeling, well, comfortable.

And the New York Times is the first to spread its thighs.

The renovation began in 2013 with replacement of seats on the box level, and it includes 12 bariatric seats, designed to hold weights of up to 300 pounds, that will be 28 inches wide, as well as 38 spaces for wheelchairs, an increase of six from before the renovation. The project was funded by a ticket fee ranging from $1 to $3.

Read on here.