have a ringside seat

have a ringside seat

1. Literally, to have a front-row seat next to a boxing ring (thought to be the best place to watch the match). Wow, you have ringside seats to that fight? They must have cost thousands!
2. By extension, to be in close proximity to a certain situation or event. I unexpectedly had a ringside seat when a fight broke out at the bar. Living near this forest my whole life, I've had a ringside seat to witness the change in the population of birds.
See also: have, ringside, seat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have a ringside ˈseat/ˈview

(informal) be in a very good position to see something happen: My flat overlooks the central square, so I had a ringside view of the demonstration.
At a boxing match or a circus, a ringside seat is one which is closest to the ring.
See also: have, ringside, seat, view
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • have a ringside seat/view
  • ringside
  • ringside seat
  • a ringside seat
  • ringside view
  • have a ringside view
  • be wide of the mark
  • be/fall wide of the mark
  • be the dead spit of (someone)
  • be the spit of
References in periodicals archive
But then people will have a ringside seat in the 'war' between Duterte and the media.
A new leader, a new beginning
Brian O'Hagan boxed in the Army and will have a ringside seat at the Hilton Hotel.
O'Hagan wants to impress on debut; BOXING