you stake out your spot by placing your chairs somewhere in the roped off areas, and then you can go home for 12 hours. The chairs will be there, untouched, when you show up for the concert.

It's like that in the parks for the New Year's Eve Fireworks in Sydney @keithboone. I couldn't imagine that happening in London!

I was standing right at the rope barrier for two hours

That explains it then. That's dedication. 😁