Shaded Seats at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is one of South Australia’s major multi-purpose stadiums. Located on the River Torrens, it hosts cricket, AFL, and major concerts and events. Adelaide’s summers are hot and dry, and even with tall stands the sun’s rays still penetrate inside of the stadium. Fans can use this guide along with the stadium seating chart to find the best shaded seats at Adelaide Oval.
Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at Adelaide Oval?
As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Adelaide Oval depend on the time of day:
- Morning: Shaded on the east side of the stadium
- Afternoon: Shaded on the west side of the stadium and under cover
- Evening: Shade everywhere except the east side of the stadium
Shade always changes with the season, clouds, and start of play. Test matches at Adelaide Oval usually start at 10:00 AM, which means seats in the shade during the first ball will be in the path of the sun later and vice versa. For shade seekers, the best bet is to choose a seat that will be shaded for a large portion of the day, and bring quality sun protection for the other hours.
Adelaide Oval Orientation to the Sun
The pitch at Adelaide Oval is oriented north-to-south with covered stands on the east, west and south sides of the stadium and open stands on the north. The sun rises in the east, tracks across the northern sky and dips toward the western horizon. For a test match, this means the east side is shaded for the morning session. After the lunch break, the west side is more favorable to shade while the east starts to become sunny.
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 Adelaide Oval. However, some major concerts and special events are instead sold via Ticketmaster under promoter-specific deals, so the safest option is to consult the the Adelaide Oval What’s On guide.
Navigating the Adelaide Oval Seating Map
Adelaide Oval is a 50,000-plus seat venue divided into three main grandstands:
- Riverbank Stand (South)
- Eastern Stand (East)
- Western Stand & Members’ Area (West)
On the north side is The Hill (Northern Mound), beneath the heritage scoreboard and alongside large trees.
On the seating map, bays are labelled with three-digit numbers:
- 100s – Level 1 (lower bowl): closest to the fence
- 200s & 300s – mid levels: corporate and members’ seating between lower and upper decks
- 500s – top deck: highest regular spectator tier
Within a bay, rows start low at the front and count up as you move further back. Seat numbers generally start at 1 and increase across each row.
Bay numbering starts in the north-west corner with Bays 100, 200 and 300. Numbers then increase sequentially in an anti-clockwise direction around the pitch, ending in the north-east corner for mid-level bays and back in the north-west for Level 1.
Adelaide Oval Shade During Morning Sessions (approximately 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
First ball at a Test at Adelaide Oval is usually 10:00 AM. At this hour, seats on the east side are comfortably shaded. Bays 130-141, 330-340 and 530-544 provide abundant morning shade. 500-level seats in the Eastern Stand are mostly under cover and stay shaded into the afternoon, while seats closer to the action become sunny as the match goes on.
Adelaide Oval Shade During Afternoon Sessions (approximately 12:40 PM – 2:40 PM)
By lunch, the sun is near its highest point; when the afternoon session begins, it’s almost directly overhead. The best way to find shade is to sit under cover. If you don’t mind being back from the fence, Bays 520-544 are covered and shaded when the sun is high. On the west side, Bays 300-315 are a good choice for early-afternoon shade, though many 100- and 200-level seats can still be sunny during this session.
Bays 142-146, as well as The Hill, are uncovered and exposed to the elements. Outside summer months the large trees can throw shade over The Hill, but in December and January the sun is too high for them to provide meaningful early-afternoon cover.
Adelaide Oval Shade During Evening Sessions (approximately 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
After tea, shade concentrates on the west side. Seats in Bays 100-113, 200-215 and 300-315 are shaded as the sun dips and the stadium casts a shadow toward the pitch. Bays 520-529 also remain mostly shaded thanks to the roof. The sunniest seats are Level 1 bays on the north, east and south sides; fans in Bays 120-149 should bring solid sun protection during the third session.
By the middle of the afternoon, seats on the west side of the stadium are shaded while those on the east side are sunny.
Matthew Starling / Alamy Stock Photo
Adelaide Oval Shade During Events Starting After 6:00 PM
T20s, concerts and other events often start in the evening under lights. At this hour, shade is concentrated on the west side: Bays 100-113, 200-215 and 300-315 are shaded in all rows. The combination of the roof plus the low western sun keeps these areas protected.
As the sun continues to set, the sunniest seats are on the east side. The sun points directly at Bays 130-141 and 330-340. Even Bays 530-544 aren’t entirely safe from a blast of late-day sun as the low angle can make the roof less effective. Only the very top of the 500-level tends to stay shaded right at the end of the day.
Ready to get your Adelaide Oval tickets?
Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of events at Adelaide Oval.
Upcoming Adelaide Oval Events
Where to Buy Tickets
Ticketek is the official ticketing agency for most events at Adelaide Oval. However, some major concerts and special events are instead sold via Ticketmaster under promoter-specific deals, so the safest option is to consult the the Adelaide Oval What’s On guide.
Stay Safe in the Aussie Sun
