Shaded Seats at AAMI Park
AAMI Park is Melbourne’s iconic rectangular stadium. It’s easily recognizable for its distinctive bio-frame canopy and geodesic dome on all sides of the pitch. It’s the home of the Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, and major rugby fixtures. Melbourne can experience wild weather swings, from hot sun to cool days. The canopy offers cover but the sun sneaks through as it crosses the sky. Fans should use this guide with the seating chart to identify the best shaded seats at AAMI Park.
Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at AAMI Park?
As a general rule, the seats in the shade at AAMI Park are:
- North End: Shaded from afternoon through evening
- West Sideline: Falls into shade by mid-afternoon and in the evening
- Under Cover: Upper rows directly under the bio-frame canopy are shaded
And the seats in the sun at AAMI Park are mainly:
- East Sideline: Sunny especially in the lower-level
- South End: Sun soaked at field-level
Shade shifts with season, cloud cover, and kickoff time. If you’re sun-sensitive, prioritize rows tucked under the canopy or on the west side for afternoon matches.
AAMI Park Orientation to the Sun
AAMI Park has a slightly off-axis north-to-south orientation. In Melbourne, the sun arcs across the northern sky: it’s highest in the sky around 1:00 PM, then sinks behind the west stand and sets toward the southwest. That’s why the west sideline shades earliest while the east sideline tends to stay sunny until late in the day.
The graphic below shows the approximate hour-by-hour position of the sun throughout the day on January 1st.
Where to Buy Tickets
Ticketek is the official ticketing agency for most events at AAMI Park. However, some major concerts and special events at AAMI Park are instead sold via additional vendors under promoter-specific deals, so the safest option is to consult the official AAMI Park website.
Seats in the Sun and Shade at Afternoon AAMI Park Matches
AAMI Park is a rectangular venue with seating on all four sides. The bioframe canopy covers most, but not all, seats. It’s great in light rain, but as the sun shifts through the day, some sections get more shade than others.
It’s rare for matches at AAMI Park to kick off early in the arvo, but when they do, seats at the north end are best positioned for lunchtime shade. Sections 33-42 are protected from the sun by the canopy above.
By 3:00 PM the sun sits to the west. On the west sideline, lower-level seats in sections 22-32 and upper-level seats in sections 81-91 are comfortably shaded, as are the premium seats wedged between them. The only seats likely to catch sun at this hour are at pitch level, though these usually fall into shade shortly into a mid-arvo match. On the east sideline, the upper rows of sections 70-80 are generally shaded by the canopy, but as the afternoon progresses the sun reaches more rows and even the canopy won’t protect most seats.
The sunniest seats are on the lower east sideline, particularly in sections 1-11, where rays come through the stadium opening. In sections 70-80 the canopy provides shade early in the afternoon, but later more seats move into the sun’s path, starting with the lower rows and moving upward. Behind the south end, sections 14-20 get sun for parts of the afternoon. If you’re chasing shade behind the goals, pick the north end over the south end.
Choose a seat on the west side of the stadium (where the photo is taken) if you’re seeking shade or on the east side (across the field) if you like sun.
dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo
Seats in the Sun and Shade at Evening AAMI Park Matches
By early evening, the entire west sideline and the areas behind both the north and south ends are in shade. On the east sideline, sections 1-11, 50-60 and 70-80 stay sunny until the sun drops low enough to be blocked by the opposite stand. During the longest days of the Aussie summer, virtually every row in sections 70-80 can cop a blast of sun before sunset. Once the shade line has crossed the pitch, the sun angles directly toward these seats so bring your best sunnies unless it’s cloudy.
Ready to get your AAMI Park tickets?
Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of games at AAMI Park.
Where to Buy Tickets
Ticketek is the official ticketing agency for most events at AAMI Park. However, some major concerts and special events at AAMI Park are instead sold via additional vendors under promoter-specific deals, so the safest option is to consult the official AAMI Park website.
Stay Safe in the Aussie Sun
