Shaded Seats at Ohio Stadium

Ohio Stadium, nicknamed “The Horseshoe,” is one of college football’s most iconic venues. Serving as the home field for the Ohio State Buckeyes, it’s known for its passionate fanbase and gameday atmosphere. Central Ohio experiences four distinct seasons, so fans attending games later in the season might seek sunny spots to stay warm, while those attending sunnier summer and fall games might look for shade. This guide will help by identifying the shaded seats at Ohio Stadium.

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

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

• South End Zone: Limited early-afternoon shade
• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade on the Buckeyes’ home side

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

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the away team’s side
• North End Zone: Sunny for much of the day

Buckeyes games at The Horseshoe usually kick off at noon, 3:30 PM or 7:30 PM. Occasionally other start times are mixed into the schedule as well. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Ohio Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Ohio Stadium is situated in a slightly off-axis north-to-south orientation. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it curves and dips behind the west side of the stadium, where it eventually sets. This configuration generally makes the west side of the stadium the “shade side,” while the east side is sunny.

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 Ohio Stadium

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

Ohio Stadium is a beloved college football venue that uses a horseshoe seating design (hence its nickname), which has been upgraded and expanded over the years. It uses a somewhat confusing alphanumeric section naming system, where sections starting with odd numbers are on the home (west) side of the stadium and sections starting with even numbers are on the east (away) side. After the number, sections are lettered AA for those closest to the field, A for seats in the lower level, B for the middle level, and C/D for the upper level.

Shade is limited at Ohio Stadium early in the afternoon. When the Buckeyes kick off at noon, the sun is high and above the south end zone. A small amount of shade can be found in upper-level Sections 31B-39B. These seats are adjacent to the video board, which casts a shadow over a limited number of seats. Sections 31A-39A, which are closer to the field, are unlikely to be shaded during an early-day game, as they are too far from the video board to benefit from its shadow.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away) sideline and behind the north end zone. Even-numbered sections at all levels will be sun-soaked for most or all of an early-day game. Most seats on the west (home) sideline in odd-numbered sections are also in the sun during the early afternoon. By the third or fourth quarter, a small number of seats in the C/D level near the press box may begin to get some shade as the sun rotates toward that side of the stadium. This is more likely to occur later in the football season when the sun is lower in the sky and casts longer shadows.

Seats behind the south end zone (where the photo is taken) are shaded during games with early start times.
James Davidson / Icon Sportswire

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

When the Buckeyes kick off in the middle of the afternoon, shade at The Horseshoe 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 odd-numbered sideline Sections 13-29, as well as the club sections near the 50-yard line. Shade will cover seats in the C/D tiers first, followed shortly by the A and AA tiers. Fans on this side of the stadium have the sun at their backs, with shade covering their seats as it dips behind the stadium structure.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away) side of the stadium, in even-numbered Sections 14-30. These seats are squarely in the sun until around sunset, when the shade line crosses the field and begins to cover them. Seats behind the end zones start 3:30 PM games in the sun, and most end zone seats will remain sunny. For 7:30 PM games, most end zone seats are safely shaded at kickoff.

Over the course of the afternoon seats on the west of the stadium (left) become shaded while those on the east side (right) are squarely in the sun.
Mark Burnett / Alamy Stock Photo

Ready to buy shaded seats at Ohio Stadium?

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