If they knew the reward of the first row
لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الْأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لَاسْتَهَمُوا
Law ya'lamu-n-nasu ma fi-n-nida'i wa-s-saffi-l-awwali thumma lam yajidu illa an yastahimu 'alayhi la-stahamu.
"If people knew the reward of the call to prayer and the first row, and could find no way to obtain them except by drawing lots, they would draw lots for it."
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah. Sahih al-Bukhari 615, Sahih Muslim 437
A short reflection
A physical position worth a lottery. Next Jumu'ah — leave a bit earlier and stand where the reward is densest.