Shaded Seats at LSU Tiger Stadium

Tiger Stadium, colloquially called “Death Valley,” is one of college football’s most legendary venues. Primarily the home field for the LSU Tigers, the stadium is celebrated for its intense atmosphere and passionate fans. Given the hot and humid climate in Baton Rouge, fans looking for tickets to LSU games can use this guide along with the stadium’s seating chart to locate the shaded seats at Tiger Stadium.

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

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

• South End Zone: Limited shade early in the afternoon
• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade is on the Tigers home side

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

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the away team’s side
• North End Zone: Sunny until late in the afternoon

LSU football games at Tiger Stadium usually kick off locally at 2:30 PM or 6:30 PM hour but can sometimes start at other times too. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Tiger Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Tiger Stadium is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it dips behind the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the northwest corner. This configuration generally makes the west side of the stadium the “shade side,” while the east side is the sunniest.

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

See an interactive seating chart for the next event at Tiger Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Tiger Stadium Games

Tiger Stadium is a historic venue that has undergone many renovations and expansions over the years. Its current configuration features lower-level seats on all sides of the field, an upper deck on the sidelines, and additional seating behind the south end zone. There is also a ring of club seats and suites between the lower and upper levels. Tiger Stadium is otherwise open to the elements, with no canopy or roof to block out the sun.

Shade is limited at The Swamp early in the afternoon. When the Tigers kick off in the early day, the sun is high above the south end zone. A small amount of shade can be found in upper-level end zone Sections 550-568 and 650-658. Shadows may extend to cover some seats in Sections 413-421. However, the closer you get to the field, the less chance you have of finding shade at your seat.

Covered seats are also shaded early in the afternoon, which means if you’re willing to splurge, you can escape the sun. On the west (home) side of the stadium, club Sections 101C-111C, 201C-211C, and 308C-311C are all shaded as a result of being under cover. The Tiger Den Suites on the east and south sides of the stadium are covered as well.

The sunniest seats are on the east side of the stadium and behind the north end zone. Barring a cloudy day, all rows in Sections 201-244, 300-306, and 630-643 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 Tiger Stadium Games

When the Tigers kick off at 2:30 PM or later, there is quite a bit more shade, and finding it is more predictable. At the start of a mid-afternoon game, the sun is making its descent behind the west (home) side of the stadium. Shade seekers should focus their search on west sideline Sections 101-106 at field level and 610-619 in the upper level. Fans in these sections will have the sun at their backs, with shade covering their seats as it dips behind the stadium structure. Club Sections 101C-111C, 201C-211C, and 308C-311C are all quality choices for shade if you’re willing to upgrade.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away team) side of the stadium, in Sections 300-306 and 630-643. As the game progresses, the shade line will cross the field and begin covering seats on the east side from lowest to highest. Field-level seats will become shaded first, followed by the upper deck. Tiger Den Suites on the east sideline should be relatively sun-free but may get a blast of late-day sun, because covered seats are not necessarily shaded seats.

Seats behind the end zones start mid-afternoon games in the sun, but as the shade line crosses the field, they begin to become shaded as well. For evening games, the end zones should be relatively safe from the sun for all or most of the game.

By mid-afternoon seats on the west side of the stadium (left) are becoming shaded those on the east side (right) are still in the sun.
Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire

Ready to buy shaded seats at Tiger Stadium Stadium?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see the upcoming game list for Tiger Stadium.