Shaded Seats at Beaver Stadium

Beaver Stadium is one of college football’s most iconic and formidable venues. Home to the Penn State Nittany Lions, it is known for its massive capacity and loyal fanbase. Central Pennsylvania experiences four distinct seasons, so fans attending games later in the season might seek sunny spots to stay warm, while those attending warmer fall games might look for shade. This guide will help by identifying the shaded seats at Beaver Stadium.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at Beaver Stadium?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Beaver Stadium:

• South End Zone: Limited early-afternoon shade
• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade on the away team’s side

And the seats in the sun at Beaver Stadium are mainly:

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the Nittany Lions’ home side
• North End Zone: Sunny for much of the day

Nittany Lions games at Beaver Stadium usually kick off at noon, 3:30 PM or 7:30 PM. Occasionally other start times are included as well to accommodate the national television schedule. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Beaver Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Beaver Stadium is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it dips behind the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the northwest corner. This configuration generally makes the west side of the stadium the “shade side,” while the east side is the sunniest. The south end zone gets some early-day shade, but the north end zone is sunny for afternoon games.

The graphic below shows the approximate hour-by-hour position of the sun throughout the day on September 1st.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next event at Beaver Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Beaver Stadium Games

Beaver Stadium is a modern college football venue that features two tiers of seating. It uses an alphabetic section naming system rather than a numeric one. Lower-level sections are assigned a two-character code, while upper-level sections are assigned a three-character code. The first character denotes which side of the field the section is on. Sections start with either N, S, E, or W, representing the north, south, east, and west ends of the stadium. This is actually quite helpful when it comes to identifying shaded seats.

Shade is limited at Beaver Stadium early in the afternoon. When the Nittany Lions kick off at noon, the sun is high and directly above the south end zone. A small amount of shade can be found in upper-level, three-character end zone sections starting with S. Shadows are unlikely to reach the lower level, so the closer you are to the field, the less chance you’ll have of finding shade at your seat.

The sunniest seats are on the sidelines and behind the north end zone. Sections starting with E, N, or W will likely be sun-soaked for most or all of an early-day game. One exception is upper-level W sections adjacent to the press box. As the sun rotates around the stadium over the course of the game, the press box will provide a barrier and cast a shadow over a limited number of nearby seats.

Seats behind the south end zone are shaded around noon for an early afternoon game. Over the course of the day seats on the west side of the stadium (right) will become shaded as well.
Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon and Evening Beaver Stadium Games

When the Nittany Lions kick off in the middle of the afternoon, shade at Beaver Stadium is more abundant and easier to find. At the start of a 3:30 PM game, the sun is making its descent behind the west (away) side of the stadium. Shade seekers should focus their search on sideline sections that start with W. Fans in these sections will have the sun at their backs, with shade covering their seats as it dips behind the stadium structure.

The sunniest seats are on the east (home) side of the stadium, in sections that start with E. Be especially careful with the upper deck at this time of day, seats here are oriented directly toward the sun and remain sunny the longest. Seats behind the end zones start mid-afternoon games in the sun, but as the shade line crosses the field, they begin to become shaded as well. For evening games, the end zones should be relatively safe from the sun.

Ready to buy shaded seats at Beaver Stadium?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see the upcoming game list for Beaver Stadium.