Bank of America Stadium Seats in Sun & Shade

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Bank of America Stadium is a fixture in the Carolina sports scene. It has served the Panthers well since 1996. Though primarily used to host football games, it is also the home of Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer. Like other NFL stadiums in the southeastern United States, Bank of America Stadium is an open-air facility with no retractable roof, air conditioning, or protection from the elements. The weather can get quite hot and humid in the Tar Heel state, so both football and soccer fans will benefit from knowing where to find shade. You can use this article in combination with the Bank of America Stadium seating chart to locate seats in both the shade and the sun.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Bank of America Stadium?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Bank of America Stadium are located:

On the home (west) side of the field
Behind the south end zone

And the seats in the sun at Bank of America Stadium are located:

On the visitor (east) side of the field
Behind the north end zone

Unless scheduled for a national Sunday Night or Monday Night Football game, most Panthers games kick off at 1:00pm or 4:00pm to accommodate the NFL’s national TV schedule. In the summer, Charlotte FC games occasionally start early in the day, but most home games are scheduled for the evening. For specific details on which sections to look for tickets, keep reading.

Bank of America Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Bank of America Stadium is oriented in a northwest to southeast direction. By noon the sun is high in the sky over the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon the sun gradually dips down behind the home side of the stadium and eventually sets closer to the north end zone.

The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day on July 1st.

Shade and Sun at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte Click or tap here to see an interactive seating chart at Bank of America Stadium.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Bank of America Stadium Games

When Bank of America Stadium opened in the mid-1990s it was considered state of the art for its time, but the design is now considered somewhat obsolete. A big issue is that unlike newer NFL stadiums it lacks any kind of roof or protection from the sun. That said, for early afternoon games the huge video board behind the south end zone blocks the sun’s rays and provides some relief for fans in the sections in upper level 560-530 as well as 119-124, 227-232 later into the game. As the afternoon progresses seats on the home side of the field will start to move into the shade, starting with those closer to the south end zone.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Bank of America Stadium Games

For a Panthers game that kicks off at 4:00pm shade is a lot easier to find. You’ll find shaded seats on the home (west) side of the field in the lower, middle or upper deck. For shade, seek out a ticket in sections 126-136, 337-350 or 535-547. On the other hand, if you’re looking for sun to stay warm later in the NFL season, pick something on the exact opposite side of the field, like sections 107-115, 311-320 or 510-519.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Evening Bank of America Stadium Games

If the Panthers are scheduled for a Sunday Night or Monday Night Football game the lights will already be on by kickoff time so there’s no need to worry about the sun and shade. However, sunset in North Carolina isn’t until after 8:30pm during the longest days of summer, so Charlotte FC fans will want to know exactly where the sun is shining.

As the sun sets, sections closer to the field on the east side will move into the shade first, while seats farther from the field will stay in the sun the longest. Soccer games usually only use the lower and middle levels so fans in sections 311-320 are most likely to need sunglasses at least for the first few minutes of the game!

Ready to get your Carolina football or soccer tickets?

Use the individual game links on the side (or middle of the page on mobile) or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of games at Bank of America Stadium. Learn about why we recommend buying tickets on SeatGeek.

Enjoy the game!