Filling a Theater During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the summer of 2020, Music Building Eindhoven (MBE) had to deal with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for theater halls because governmental regulations were having a severe impact on the occupancy. In particular, MBE faced the challenge of determining how to maximize the number of guests in a theater hall while respecting social distancing rules. We have developed and implemented an optimization model based on trapezoid packings to address this challenge. The model showed that up to 40% of the normal capacity can be realized for a single show setting and up to 70% in cases where artists opt for two consecutive performances per evening without reusing seats. The solution was adopted by MBE with significant monetary and managerial benefits.