Shaded Seats at RAC Arena

RAC Arena is Perth’s major multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue. It’s primarily the home of the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League, and also a major concert venue for artists touring through Western Australia. It also hosts boxing, wrestling, and netball matches. Most sports and concerts at RAC Arena are held with the roof closed, but it’s open for the United Cup tennis tournament and some concerts. Since the United Cup is held during the peak of summer, this article will focus specifically on RAC Arena as it’s configured for tennis, though this guide can also be used for other events where fans are looking for shaded seats.

Where are the seats in the shade at RAC Arena?

The seats in the shade at RAC Arena are:

• North Baseline: Shaded all day
• South Baseline: Shaded for the entire day in all tiers
• West Sideline: Shaded after 1:00 PM for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Shade always changes with the season, clouds, and kickoff time. If you’re sensitive to sun, prioritize rows tucked under the roof lines.

RAC Arena Orientation to the Sun

When set up for tennis, RAC Arena is configured with the court in a north-to-south orientation. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the north side of the venue. Over the course of the afternoon, the sun dips down along the west side of the building and sets behind to the southwest corner.

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

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Seats in the Sun and Shade at RAC Arena Tennis Matches

RAC Arena hosts the United Cup, a team-based tennis tournament, in late December and early January, in the run-up to the Australian Open. As long as there is no extreme heat or rain in the forecast, matches are played with the roof open and sunlight shining directly onto the court. For tennis fans, the design of the arena means that some seats are shaded for the entire day, while others are shaded for only part of the day.

The United Cup is split into daily sessions: a day session that starts at 10:00 AM, and an evening session that starts at 5:00 PM. Fans attending the day session should know that the “shade side” will flip around noon. In the morning, the east sideline is shaded, but after about 1:00 PM the sun changes position in the sky, and some seats on the east sideline — particularly those closest to the court — will be in the path of the sun.

In the morning, courtside seats on the west side of the arena (right) are sunny, but after noon, they become shaded and stay shaded for the rest of the day.
Mauricio Paiz / Alamy Stock Photo

Evening sessions are easier to navigate. Fans who want shade should pick a seat on the west side of the arena. Sections 202–206 or 301–309 are fully shaded for the entirety of the evening session, as the sun sets from behind. On the other side of the court, sections 212–216 get a blast of sun, as the angle of the sun in the afternoon points toward them. Even sections 315–323 get some sun late in the day, as the setting sun sneaks through.

For all-day shade, fans should seek out a seat behind the baselines. Sections 218–222, behind the south baseline, are smaller sections often sold as premium seats. These seats are a great option for fans willing to splurge and guarantee a shaded seat. Behind the north baseline, sections 207–211, 301–314, and 401–407 are all safely shaded, as they fall under the non-retractable portion of the arena’s roof. Sections 401–407 are quite far from the action, though, so while they’re shaded, they may not provide the best viewing experience.

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Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of games at RAC Arena.