Raymond James Stadium Seats in Sun & Shade

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and South Florida Bulls play home games at Raymond James Stadium – commonly referred to as Ray Jay or The New Sombrero. Like the other NFL franchises in Florida, the Bucs don’t have a permanent or retractable roof at home. Lacking a climate controlled environment, fans will want to know where the seats in the shade are located because it gets hot in Florida! Use this article in combination with the Raymond James Stadium seating chart to find the seats in the shade and sun.

Where are the seats in the shade and sun at Raymond James Stadium?

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

• In the southwest corner (home side near the south end zone) for 1pm starts
• On the home side of the stadium for 4pm starts
• In the last few rows of 200-level sections

And the seats in the sun at Raymond James Stadium are located:

• On the visitor side of the stadium
• In the north end zone

Most NFL games at Raymond James Stadium kick off around either 1:00pm or 4:00pm with the occasional night game mixed in. University of South Florida games at Raymond James Stadium are usually played in the early afternoon but can vary depending on the NCAA schedule. For specific details about sections and start times, read on.

Raymond James Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Raymond James Stadium is oriented in a north to south direction. By noon the sun is high in the sky near the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon the sun moves across the sky to the west and eventually behind the stadium structure on the home side of the field. 

The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day on October 1st.

Click or tap here to see a detailed seating chart at Raymond James Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Buccaneers Games

Let’s start with the reality that there are a lot more seats in the sun than in the shade at Ray Jay. This is frustrating because the first few weeks of the season are hot in Florida. Fans who are  lucky enough to have tickets for a luxury box can watch from inside, but everyone else will have to be strategic with their seat selection. 

At the beginning of a 1:00pm game, very few seats are shaded. You might have luck picking a seat in one of the farthest rows back in the 200-level, such as rows AA-DD in sections 231-240. These rows are just barely under the overhang of the 300-level. By around halftime some seats on the home side will start to get shade as the sun dips behind the stadium structure. Shade will start in the corner, around sections 140 and 240 and eventually cover more seats on the home side. Rows farther from the field will get shade faster than rows closer to the field.

Rows in the very back of 200-level sections will get some shade provided by the overhand of the upper deck above. Pelow Media / Shutterstock.com

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Buccaneers Games

When the Bucs or a college team kick off later in the afternoon, shade is a bit easier to find. Early in the game the 146-150 sections in the south end zone should all be shaded. Eventually 100-level and 200-level sections on the home side of the field will get some shade as well, starting with sections 101 and 201 and going up sequentially.

If you’re attending a Sunday, Monday or Thursday night football game at Ray Jay you don’t really have to worry about the sun at all! Games that kick off in the 8:00pm hour will start after it is already dark.

Ready to get your Buccaneers tickets?

Use the individual game links on the side (or middle of the page on mobile) or click or tap here to see a list of upcoming games at Ray Jay.

Enjoy the game!

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