Shaded Seats at Huntington Bank Field

Huntington Bank Field, formerly Cleveland Browns Stadium, sits on the shores of Lake Erie and serves as the home of the Cleveland Browns. Though primarily used for professional football, it also hosts major concerts and sporting events during the Browns’ offseason. Cleveland experiences a four-season climate, so fans may seek shade to escape the summer heat or look for sunny spots to counteract the winter chill coming off the lake during the fall and winter months. This guide will help identify the shaded seats at Huntington Bank Field.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at Huntington Bank Field?

Generally speaking, shaded seats at Huntington Bank Field are:

• West End Zone: Shaded in mid-afternoon and evening
• South Sideline: Some shade for for day games only

And sunny seats at Huntington Bank Field are mainly:

• East End Zone & Sidelines: Sunny especially east of the 50 yard line

Most Browns games at Huntington Bank Field kick off at 1:00 PM, with the occasional 4:25 PM game mixed in. Historically, the NFL has not prioritized Browns home games for Sunday night or Monday night scheduling, but it is always possible. Concerts and other special events typically start in the early evening. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Huntington Bank Field Orientation to the Sun

Huntington Bank Field has a rare (for the NFL) northeast to southwest orientation. For a 1:00 PM kickoff, the sun starts high in the sky behind the south sideline. Over the course of the afternoon, it curves around the west end zone and eventually sets near the northwest corner of the stadium. This configuration makes the south sideline and west end zone the “shade side,” while the east end zone and north sideline, especially east of the 50-yard line, are the sunny side.

The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day on September 1st.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next event at Huntington Bank Field

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Huntington Bank Field Games

At kickoff for a 1:00 PM game, the sun is positioned above and behind the south sideline. During preseason and the first few games of the NFL season, the sun casts a shorter shadow at this time, whereas later in the season, especially after daylight savings ends, the sun is lower in the sky and casts longer shadows. That means early in the season, shade is sparser, with sections and seats higher and farther from the field receiving shade first, and those closer to the field moving into the shade as the game progresses.

At field level, sections 102-115 are on the shade side of the stadium, as are sections 301-316 on the club level. In the nosebleeds, sections 501-516 are safely shaded in just about every month of the NFL season. The last ten rows are also under the cover of the stadium roof and protected from the non-wind elements. In the cold-weather months, these seats have their backs to the sun but face the wind coming off of a cold Lake Erie, which may not be ideal for all fans.

During an afternoon game, the sun will rotate around the stadium, and seats behind the west end zone will become shaded. The last dozen rows of sections 145-149 are covered and are the best bet for shade. Seats closer to the field in those sections, as well as those above in sections 344-350, will become shaded by halftime if not earlier, depending on the exact time of year.

Seats on the north (visitor’s) side of the stadium will largely remain in the sun for the majority of an early afternoon game. Sections 124-141, 324-341, and 524-543 will be mostly sun-soaked unless it’s a cloudy day. Sections behind the east end zone are the sunniest seats in the stadium, with seats facing directly into the sun for much of the game.

During an afternoon game, seats on the south side of the stadium and behind the west end zone are shaded while those on the north side (across the field) are in the sun.
Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Huntington Bank Field Games

If the Browns are scheduled for a game kicking off at 4:00 PM, the sun calculus changes a bit. Shade seekers should look for sections behind the west end zone, including 145-149 and 344-350, which will be shaded with the sun behind them for the entire game. As sunset approaches, the sun will dip behind the northwest corner of the stadium, providing additional shade for sections 134-141, 334-343, and 534-543.

Seats on the south (home) side of the stadium will probably start the game in the shade, and the best bet for a seat that stays shaded is west of the 50-yard line. Seats east of the 50-yard line may move back into the path of the sun over the course of the game. The sunniest seats are those behind the east end zone in sections 117-124 and 317-323. Seats in the 600-level Northeast Deck section are also directly exposed to the sun all the way through sunset.

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