Shaded Seats at Paycor Stadium

Paycor Stadium, historically known as Paul Brown Stadium, is located on the banks of the Ohio River and serves as the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. Though primarily used for professional football, it also hosts major concerts and special events during the Bengals’ offseason. Cincinnati experiences a four-season climate, so fans may seek shade to escape the summer heat or look for sunny spots during the late months of the NFL season. This guide will help identify the best shaded seats at Paycor Stadium.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Paycor Stadium?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Paycor Stadium are located:

• West Sideline: Shaded by mid-afternoon on the Bengals home side of the stadium

And the seats in the sun at Paycor Stadium are located:

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

Most Bengals games at Paycor Stadium kick off at 1:00pm with the occasional Sunday night, Monday night, or late afternoon start mixed in. Concerts typically start in the early evening. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Paycor Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Paycor Stadium is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is high in the sky above the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it curves behind the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the north end zone. This configuration makes the west side of the stadium the “shade side” and the east side the sunny side. The end zones are sunny for most of the day but become shaded by late afternoon.

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 Paycor Stadium

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

Shade is relatively sparse for a 1:00 PM Bengals game. At this hour, the sun is positioned above and behind the south end zone. Paycor Stadium has very little cover, especially in the end zones, so only the last ten or so rows will be shaded, thanks to the video board located behind. The upper 300-level has a canopy roof spanning both sidelines, which provides shade and protection from the elements for fans in the nosebleeds. Shade-seeking fans should prefer the west (home) side of the stadium.

Over the course of a day game, shade will cover seats from highest to lowest and from back to front. The back rows of sections 303-317 will become shaded first, followed by rows in the front of those sections. Next, shade will reach sections 202-218, and finally, 101-119 will become shaded last. A bonus tip for shade seekers is that the very back of sections 203 and half of 202 are under cover and are some of the best seats for all-day shade.

Seats on the east (visitor’s) side of the stadium will largely remain in the sun for the majority of an early afternoon game. Sections 132-148, 231-249, and 333-347 will be mostly sun-soaked unless it’s a cloudy day. The back dozen rows in the 300-level are covered and may even start the game in the shade, but as the sun rotates around the stadium, many seats that start shaded will move into the path of the sun.

By mid-afternoon seats on the west side of the stadium (left) are shaded while those on the east side (right) and behind the end zones are still in the sun.
Jim Owens/Icon Sportswire

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Games at Paycor Stadium

When a game or event kicks off after 4:00 PM, it’s much easier to find a seat in the shade. For late-day events, most seats on the west (home) side of the field, as well as those behind the end zones, will be shaded for most or all of the event.

On the east (visitor’s) side, shade will start to hit the seats closest to the field first and move upward. It will first reach the 100-level, followed by the 200-level, and finally the upper 300-level. Be cautious when choosing a seat on the east side of the stadium if you’re sensitive to the sun, and make sure to bring sunglasses as you might need them for at least the first part of the game!

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