Shaded Seats at the Cincinnati Open Grandstand

The Lindner Family Tennis Center is a top-tier tennis campus in Mason, Ohio. The campus features 16 courts, with the Grandstand standing as second largest after Center Court. The Cincinnati Open takes place each August, when Southwest Ohio experiences hot, humid summers and late sunsets. Fans planning to see their favorite tennis stars can use this guide, along with the stadium seating chart, to find the best shaded seats at the Cincinnati Open Grandstand.

Where Are the Shaded Seats at the Cincinnati Open?

At the Lindner Family Tennis Center’s Grandstand, shaded seats are located:

• North Baseline: Covered seats are shaded
• Grandstand Club: Covered and shaded on the west sideline
• West Sideline: Shaded after approximately 5:00 PM

Matches at the Cincinnati Open begin daily as early as 11:00 AM, and the sun doesn’t set in Southwest Ohio until approximately 8:30 PM at this time of year. That’s over nine hours of tennis action in the summer heat!

Grandstand is located directly south of Center Court and is connected to it via The Tower. Like the other courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, it has undergone numerous upgrades and improvements over the years. This article references the most up-to-date seating chart, which can be found on the Ticketmaster website.

Grandstand currently uses a hybrid reserved/general admission seating policy. Reserved seats are located in the lower level in all 100-level sections as well as in 211-213 behind the south baseline. General admission seating is in the remaining 200-level sections. 

Cincinnati Open Grandstand Orientation to the Sun

All tennis courts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center feature a slightly off-axis north to south orientation. For Grandstand, this orientation means the sun is over the southeast corner of the stadium when the first match begins in the morning. It swings behind the south side of the court around 2:00 PM and as the afternoon progresses, the sun dips behind the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the northwest corner.

The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day during the third week in August.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next session at Grandstand Court

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Cincinnati Open Grandstand Matches

Shade is limited during most of the afternoon session at Grandstand. One of the few shaded areas is behind the north baseline, under the cover provided by The Tower. The best seats for consistent shade are in sections 102–104 and the portion of section 105 located under the overhang. These are often priced as premium courtside seats, but if you plan to spend most of the day at Grandstand, they could be worth the splurge to guarantee all-day shade.

Courtside seats behind the north baseline (where the photo is taken) are covered and reliably shaded throughout the day.

Another splurge option for shade is to upgrade to the Grandstand Club. This club includes complimentary nonalcoholic beverages and guaranteed shade, as the seats are all covered. The biggest disadvantage is that these seats are a bit farther from the action than the courtside seats under The Tower.

Grandstand Club is one of the few places to find reliable shaded seating.

Unlike Center Court, Grandstand does not feature additional canopies or roofs extending over the stands to provide shade. This means most seats are exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day. Around 5:00 PM, the sun dips far enough behind the west side of Grandstand for sideline sections 115–118 to become shaded, as the Grandstand Club casts a shadow from behind. Fans hoping to secure general admission seating should prioritize the sections 217-220, which will become shaded first, while those seated across the court on the east sideline will have to contend with the sun in their eyes.

Ready to get your Cincinnati Open tickets?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of sessions at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.