Shaded Seats at Kroger Field

Kroger Field is one of college football’s newer stadiums and home field for the Kentucky Wildcats. Lexington experiences a variety of weather, from warm early-season games to cooler fall days. Fans attending games early in the season may look for shaded seats to stay cool, while those attending later games might prefer sunny spots to keep warm. This guide will help by identifying the shaded seats at Kroger Field.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Kroger Field?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Kroger Field are located:

• South Sideline: Shade on the Wildcats’ home side of the stadium

And the seats in the sun at Kroger Field are located:

• North Sideline: Sunny on the away team’s side of the stadium
• End Zones: Exposed to the sun until late in the afternoon

Wildcats games at Kroger Field kick off at noon, 3:30 PM or 7:30 PM with other afternoon start times mixed into the schedule as well. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Kroger Field Orientation to the Sun

Kroger Field is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is above and behind the southeast corner of the stadium. Over the course of the afternoon, it dips behind the south side of the stadium and eventually sets near the west end zone. This configuration makes the south side of the stadium the “shade side” and the north side the sunny side. The end zones are sunny during day games but become shaded by late afternoon.

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

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

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Kroger Field Games

Kroger Field is a modern college football venue with seating on all four sides of the field. Suites and premium seating are concentrated on the south sideline, while grandstand-style seating is located on the north sideline. It’s otherwise an open-air venue with no canopy or roof to block out the sun or the elements.

Shade is sparse at Kroger Field early in the afternoon. When the Wildcats kick off at noon, the sun is high above, and nearly every seat, aside from one in a suite or box, is sun-soaked. Your best hope for shade early in the day is in the very last rows of southeast corner Sections 28–31, which may get a small shadow from the section behind as the sun rotates around the stadium. The very last rows of Sections 12–14 and 18–20 may also get some early-day shade, as they are directly below the end zone suites.

The sunniest seats are on the north side of the stadium and elsewhere behind the end zones. Barring a cloudy day, all rows in Sections 1–11 and 201–211 are essentially guaranteed to be in the path of the sun for the entirety of an afternoon game.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon and Evening Kroger Field Games

When the Wildcats are scheduled for a 3:30 PM game, shade is more predictable and easier to find. In the mid-afternoon, prefer the south side of the stadium for shade. The press box and 400-level suites create a physical barrier between the sun and the south sideline sections. Shade seekers should focus on Sections 21–31 and 221–231. As the sun descends behind the stadium, fans in these sections will have the sun at their backs and shade covering their seats.

The sunniest seats are on the north (away team) side of the stadium. Sections 1–11 and 201–211 are sun-soaked at the start of a mid-afternoon game. As the game progresses, the shade line will cross the field and begin covering seats on the north side from lowest to highest. Lower-level seats will become shaded first, followed by the upper level just before sunset. Bring your best sunglasses if you pick a seat in 201–211!

End zone seats are trickier, as most will start a 3:30 PM game in the sun, but as the shade line crosses the field, end zone seats will become shaded too. For a 7:30 PM game, end zone sections will start the game in the shade.

By late-afternoon seats on the south side of the stadium (right) are shaded while those on the north side (left) are still in the sun.
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire

Ready to buy shaded seats at Kroger Field?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see the upcoming game list for Kroger Field.