Shaded Seats at Neyland Stadium

Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is one of college football’s most historic stadiums. As the home of the Tennessee Volunteers, it’s known for its massive capacity and dedicated fanbase. East Tennessee has a generally warm climate with lingering heat at the start of football season. Fans headed out to Vols games can use this guide along with the stadium’s seating chart to identify the shaded seats at Neyland Stadium.

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

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

• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade on the Volunteers’s home side
• Under Cover: The last few rows in the lower bowl are covered and shaded

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

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the away team’s side
• End Zones: Sunny until late in the day

Volunteers games at Neyland Stadium usually kick off in the early afternoon (around Noon – 1:00 PM), mid-afternoon (around 3:00 – 4:00 PM), or evening (around 7:00 – 8:00 PM). For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Neyland Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Neyland 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.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next event at Neyland Stadium

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

Neyland Stadium is a historic college football venue that feels modern thanks to numerous upgrades and renovations over the years. It currently features two tiers of seating and uses a somewhat confusing alphanumeric section naming system. On the lower level, sections are labeled with a single letter (A, B, C, etc.), and on the upper level, they are labeled with double letters (AA, BB, etc.), except behind the north end zone, where sections are given an X, Y, or Z prefix followed by a number, and on the west sideline upper level, where they are given a T prefix.

There is more sun than shade at Neyland Stadium early in the afternoon. When the Volunteers kick off at noon, the sun is high above the south end zone. The key to finding shade at this hour is to look for covered seating. Neyland Stadium is designed so that the upper level slightly overhangs the lower level. This means seats in the upper level are closer to the action and offer the added benefit of putting the last 8-10 rows in the lower level under the cover of the upper deck. Since the sun is relatively high early in the afternoon, any covered seat is a shaded seat.

Neyland Stadium also features a small roof that extends over seats in the upper level behind the north end zone. If you don’t mind the nosebleeds, choose a seat in the last eight rows of Sections XX1-ZZ15 and you’ll be rewarded with shade. If you’re willing to upgrade, the small club seat sections located in the West Tower are also covered and shaded.

The sunniest seats are at field level on all sides of the stadium. When the sun is high in the sky, these seats are too far from any structure that might block the sun. The exceptions are the last 8-10 rows mentioned above. On the east sideline, Sections AA-FF will be sun-soaked for most or all of an early-day game, as they are in the direct path of the sun. The south end zone is also sunny, as it does not have a roof like the one over east end zone seats. That said, the video board may cast a shadow over Sections JJ-LL that are adjacent to it.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon and Evening Neyland Stadium Games

When the Volunteers kick off in the middle of the afternoon, shade at Neyland Stadium is more abundant and easier to find. At the start of a 3:30 PM game, the sun is making its descent behind the west (home) side of the stadium. Shade seekers should focus their search on sideline Sections R-W and T1-T7. Fans in these sections will have the sun at their backs, with shade covering their seats as it dips behind the West Tower.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away) side of the stadium. Sections A-F and AA-FF are oriented toward the sun and remain sunny the longest. 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, end zones should be relatively safe from the sun.

By late-afternoon seats on the west side of the stadium (right) are shaded while those on the east side (left) are still in the sun.
Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire

Ready to buy shaded seats at Neyland Stadium?

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