Shaded Seats at SeatGeek Stadium
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SeatGeek Stadium is an open-air stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois, just outside Chicago. It’s the home pitch for the Chicago Hounds as well as host for summer concerts and music festivals. Chicagoland has hot summers and notable humidity, which makes finding the right seats crucial for fans. Rugby and music fans can use this guide along with the stadium’s seating chart to identify the best shaded seats at SeatGeek Stadium.
While both Chicago soccer teams previously called SeatGeek Stadium home, the Chicago Fire FC has since moved to Soldier Field, and the Chicago Stars FC has moved to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Where are the seats in the shade and sun at SeatGeek Stadium?
Typically, shaded seats at SeatGeek Stadium are situated:
- West Sideline: Shaded by mid-afternoon and in the evening
Conversely, sunny seats are predominantly found:
- East Sideline: Sunny from early afternoon to sunset
- North Goal Line: Sun soaked for most of the day
Events at SeatGeek Stadium start at different times throughout the season. Rugby and soccer games sometimes start as early as noon, occasionally at 3:00 PM and as late as 8:30 PM. Chicago is the windy city but has plenty of warm and humid days, especially in the summer months. Many evening games kickoff early enough that the sun is a consideration for at least part of the match.
SeatGeek Stadium Orientation to the Sun
SeatGeek Stadium’s slightly off-axis north-to-south orientation means the sun is almost directly above the south goal line in the 1:00 PM hour. Over the course of the afternoon the sun dips behind the structure on the west side of the stadium. It eventually sets closer to the north goal line.
The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day on July 1st.
Seats in the Sun and Shade at Afternoon SeatGeek Stadium Events
SeatGeek Stadium is one of the few stadiums of its era to feature a U-shaped design and a permanent concert stage on the south end. A small number of seats are offered in front of the stage for games, but most seating is on the east, west, and north sides of the field.
For 1:00 PM games, the best option for shade is under the roof on the west sideline. Upper-level sections 203-211 are directly under cover, offering protection from the sun for the majority of the afternoon. The roof does not extend over the lower-level sections, so seats in 103-111 may be sunny for part of the game but will become shaded by mid-afternoon as the sun shifts westward. The roof covers about half of the seats in sections 124-132 on the east side, with seats farthest back and closest to the suites shaded early in the day. However, as the sun moves, more seats in these sections will be exposed to sunlight.
The sunniest seats are pitchside on the east side in sections 122-132. Seats behind the north goal line and in the corners from sections 112-123 are exposed to the sun for most of the afternoon as they lack any roof coverage. The limited number of seats behind the south goal line in sections 135-139 may be partially shaded by the videoboard and concert stage but are not covered and may still receive afternoon sun.
By late-afternoon seats on the west sideline (right) are in the shade, while seats on the east sideline (left) are sunny.
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
Seats in the Sun and Shade at Evening SeatGeek Stadium Events
By early evening, the entire west side of the stadium and seats behind the goal lines will be shaded. Shade will spread from west to east along the goal line sections; for example, section 115 will be shaded first, followed by section 116, then section 117, and so forth. The east side sections will remain sunny at the start of the match and won’t be shaded until sunset. Being seated under the roof on the east side does not guarantee protection from the sun’s effects. Fans in sections 123-134 may experience glare until sunset due to the sun’s position.
Ready to get your SeatGeek Stadium tickets?
Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see an upcoming list of games at SeatGeek Stadium.
