Shaded Seats at the Gabba

The Gabba (ie Brisbane Cricket Ground) is one of Brisbane’s premier cricket and AFL venues. Named for its location in Woolloongabba, just south of the CBD, it’s home to the Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Heat, and international cricket. Queensland’s subtropical climate brings intense sun and humidity, so the position of the sun is an important factor for day matches and twilight starts. Fans can use this guide along with the stadium seating chart to find the best shaded seats at The Gabba.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at the Gabba?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at the Gabba depend on the time of day:

• Morning: Shaded on the east and north sides of the stadium
• Early Afternoon: Shaded on the north and west sides of the stadium
• Late Afternoon: Shaded on the west side of the stadium
• Evening: Shaded on the west, north and south sides of the stadium

Shade always changes with the season, clouds, and start of play. Test matches at the Gabba start as early as 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 remaining hours.

The Gabba Orientation to the Sun

The pitch at the Gabba is oriented north-to-south with the video screens located to the east and west. 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 increasingly sunny.

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

Click or tap to see a seating map for the Gabba

Navigating the Gabba Seating Map

The Gabba is a completely enclosed oval with continuous multi-tier stands under a large circular roof. The seating map splits the stadium into the aptly named:

• Northern Stand (Vulture Street side)
• Southern Stand (Stanley Street side)
• Eastern Stand (Wellington Road side)
• Western Stand (Leopard Street side)

The stadium uses a simple section-numbering scheme:

• 200s = Level 2 (ground level / lower bowl)
• 300s = mid-tier / club-level boxes
• 400s = Level 4 (upper bowl / top deck)

Section numbering starts on the Northern Stand with sections 201 and 401. Numbers then increase sequentially clockwise around the pitch, ending back on the Northern Stand with sections 241 and 440. 300-level sections align with the numbers above and below (e.g., sections 310 sits between sections 210 and sections 410).

Confusingly, the Gabba uses two different numbers for wayfinding inside the stadium: aisle numbers and section numbers. If you see a map that uses 1–78 instead of the system described above, it’s aligning with the “aisle number” concept, not the 200/400 “section number” concept.

The Gabba Shade During Morning Sessions (approximately 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

First ball at a Test at the Gabba is usually 10:00 AM. At this hour, shade seekers will find the most cover in the Eastern and Northern Stands. Sections 201-213 and 401-413 are typically shaded in the morning. 400-level seats on all sides are mostly under cover and stay shaded into lunch, while seats closer to the action are uncovered and more prone to sun.

The Gabba 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 circular roof provides shade for those directly below. During the afternoon session, most 400-level seats, as well as many 300-level seats, are under cover and shaded. 200-level seats are more likely uncovered and thus sunny. Fans in sections 235-241 and 433-440 are best positioned for shade at this hour, while those across the pitch in sections 214-222 and 314-326 are more likely to be in the sun’s path.

The Gabba Shade During Evening Sessions (approximately 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

After tea, shade consolidates on the west side. Seats in sections 225-241, 329-334 and 425-440 are shaded as the sun dips and the roof casts a longer shadow toward the pitch. Seats that were shaded at first ball are sunny again. The sunniest seats are on the east side at field level in sections 207-222 and 310-326.

After lunch, seats on the west side of the stadium are shaded, as are upper-tier sections under cover of the roof.
Mike Greenslade/Australia / Alamy Stock Photo

The Gabba 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: sections in the Northern, Southern and Western Stands are all safely shaded. The combination of the roof plus the low western sun protects fans in these areas.

As the sun continues to set, the sunniest seats are in the Eastern Stand, centred around the video screen. The sun points directly at sections 210-220, 310-320 and 410-420. Even sections 410-420 aren’t entirely safe from a blast of late-day sun—the low angle can make the roof less effective right before sunset.

Ready to get your Gabba tickets?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of events at the Gabba.