According to the pictures in the article, looks like my brother's seats weren't removed for handicap seating but for larger beer stands area:
Seems weird to rip out rows of seats to provide another place for people to stand and drink.
Our seats were the last row right at the bottom of the stairs. Loved the seats since you had no one behind you and could stand without the wine and cheese crowd getting upset and you could hope over the chairs to get in and out. Oh well.