Shaded Seats at GMHBA Stadium

GMHBA Stadium is one of Victoria’s prominent sporting venues. Located in South Geelong, just minutes from the CBD, it is home to the Geelong Cats and an iconic ground in the AFL. Geelong’s summers can be warm and sunny, so the position of the sun is an important factor for afternoon matches and twilight starts. Fans can use this guide along with the stadium seating map to find the best shaded seats at GMHBA Stadium.

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

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

• Northern End: Early arvo shade in the Selwood Stand
• Western Wing: Mid-afternoon shade in the Brownlow and Premiership Stands

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

• Eastern Wing: Sunny in the Hickey Stand
• Southern End: Sun-soaked in the Players Stand, especially field-level

Shade shifts with season, clouds and kickoff time. If you’re sun-sensitive, target rows tucked under the roof lines or on the west side for afternoon matches.

GMHBA Stadium Orientation to the Sun

GMHBA Stadium is oriented northeast-to-southwest. In Victorian summers, the sun tracks across the northern sky: it’s at its highest point after 1 p.m. then it drops behind the west side and sets toward the southwest. That’s why the western wing shades first while the eastern wing stays sunny the longest.

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 GMHBA Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Afternoon GMHBA Stadium Matches

GMHBA Stadium is oval-shaped with a cylindrical canopy roof that covers stands on the north, south and west sides of the stadium. The Hickey Stand on the east side also has a roof that extends out toward the pitch but only provides meaningful shade in the upper (C-level) sections early in the day.

Matches at GMHBA Stadium sometimes kick off around lunchtime, or even in the morning. For early events, seats under cover are the best bet for shade. Sections starting with C in the upper level sit beneath the roof and are well protected. By contrast, sections starting with A, especially rows closest to the pitch, are uncovered and likely to be sunny.

By 2 p.m., the sun shifts to the west and sits behind the Brownlow Stand. At this hour, sections A28-A36 become shaded. As the afternoon progresses, shadows cover sections A22-A27 as the sun continues to dip behind the west side of the stadium. On the opposite side of the pitch, the upper half of C1-C9 is under cover and still shaded, but the front half of those sections is sun-exposed.

The sunniest seats are in A1-A9, which are in the direct path of the mid-afternoon sun. Depending on the exact hour, seats in sections A10-A21 and A37-A47 are also potentially in the sun. The later in the day, the more likely the shade line will have reached these sections.

By the middle of the afternoon, seats on the west side of the stadium (left) are shaded while those on the east side (right) are sunny.
SPP Sport Press Photo / Alamy Stock Photo

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Evening GMHBA Stadium Matches

By early evening, the Brownlow Stand, Premiership Stand and Players Stand are primarily in shade. Only fans seated in the Hickey Stand need to stress about the sun. Sections A1-A9 stay sunny until the shade line crosses the pitch. Upper-level sections C1-C9 stay sunny for the longest. Except for the very last rows, seats in this part of the Hickey Stand sit in the sun’s path until sunset.

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