Shaded Seats at HBF Park

HBF Park (also called Perth Rectangular Stadium) is one of Western Australia’s premier sports venues. Located in East Perth near the CBD, it’s home to the Perth Glory and Western Force. Perth’s Mediterranean climate brings hot, sunny summers, and even with a canopy covering sideline seats, the sun’s angle matters for afternoon matches. Fans can use this guide along with the stadium seating map to find the best shaded seats at HBF Park.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at HBF Park?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at HBF Park are:

• West Sideline: Shaded by mid-afternoon and in the evening
• Under Cover: Upper rows directly under east sideline roof are shaded

And the seats in the sun at HBF Park are mainly:

• East Sideline: Sunny especially in field-level seats
• Behind the Goals: Seats behind the goals are uncovered and sunny for most of the day

Shade shifts with season, cloud cover, and kickoff time. If you’re sun-sensitive, prioritize rows tucked under the roof/overhang for early day matches or on the west side for late afternoon matches.

HBF Park Orientation to the Sun

HBF Park has a slightly off-axis north-to-south orientation. In Perth, the sun arcs across the northern sky: it reaches its high point between 1:00 PM and noon, then dips behind the west side of the stadium and sets toward the southwest. That’s why the west sideline shades earliest, while the east sideline tends to stay sunny until late in the day.

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 HBF Park

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Afternoon HBF Park Matches

HBF Park is a rectangular venue with seating on all four sides, though not in equal amounts. On the east sideline a large canopy extends toward the pitch and covers most seats. On the west sideline a smaller canopy covers the upper-level seats and premium suites. Seats behind both ends and those closer to the pitch on the west sideline are uncovered and exposed to the elements. Cover isn’t the only factor for shade since the sun shifts through the day, even some covered sections get more shade than others.

Matches and events at HBF Park are usually scheduled for late afternoon or early evening. On rare occasions, events start around lunchtime or even in the morning. At that hour, your best chance for shade is to sit directly under cover. Along the sidelines, sections W207-W211 and E224-E233 are covered and shaded early in the day. Pitch-level sections and those behind both ends are uncovered and sunny.

By 3:00 PM the sun is in the west. On the west sideline, covered sections W207-W211 are your best bet for consistent shade. Sections W101-W115 are uncovered and, in the heart of the Aussie summer, may start a 3:00 PM match in the sun. That said, fans on the west side will have the sun at their back, so sunscreen matters more than sunnies. On the east sideline, the sun creeps up the stands from the lowest rows to the highest. Your best hope for shade on the east is in the upper half of sections E224-E233.

The sunniest seats are closer to the pitch on the east sideline. Lower-level sections E124-E132 are in the direct path of the sun. The lower half of sections E224-E233 are sunny as well. Seats behind both the north and south ends are sunny, though late in the afternoon they become shaded as the shade line crosses the pitch.

By the middle of the afternoon, seats on the west (left) side of the stadium are shaded, while most seats on the east (right) side are sunny.
Action Plus Sports Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Evening HBF Park Matches

By early evening, the entire west sideline, even the uncovered sections, is in shade. As the sun dips toward sunset, the stand casts a shadow that creeps across the pitch. Seats behind the north and south ends become shaded once it reaches them.

On the east sideline, sections E124-E132 remain sunny until the shade line arrives. During the longest days of the Aussie summer, even the top rows of sections E224-E233 can catch a dose of sun immediately before sunset. Bring high-quality sunnies if you choose a seat here!

Ready to get your HBF Park tickets?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of games at HBF Park.