Shaded Seats at Busch Stadium

Busch Stadium, located in the heart of St. Louis, is the iconic home of the Cardinals. Between stunning views of the Gateway Arch and the nearby Ballpark Village, the stadium provides an unparalleled game day experience. That said, Busch Stadium has a reputation as one of the hottest ballparks in Major League Baseball. Fans heading to a Cardinals game should use this guide along with the stadium’s seating chart to find the best shaded seats at Busch Stadium.

Where are the shaded seats at Busch Stadium?

Generally, the seats in the shade at Busch Stadium are located:

• Behind Home Plate: Shaded by mid-afternoon
• 3rd Base Line: Shaded in the late afternoon and evening
• Under Cover: Early shade in rows directly under a roof or overhang

In the 2026 season, most Cardinals games are day games starting at 1:15 p.m. or evening games starting at 6:45 p.m., with a handful of other start times mixed in, including a late afternoon game at 3:15 p.m. For specific information about seating sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Busch Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Busch Stadium is oriented with home plate facing east. This orientation makes the ballpark particularly tricky to evaluate for shade because there is no universal “shade side” like at other stadiums. For day games, you are more likely to find shade on the 1st base side of the park, though the amount is limited. During evening games, it flips, and the 3rd base side becomes the prime location for shade.

The graphic below shows the approximate location of the sun throughout the day on July 1st (halfway through the MLB season).

See an interactive seating chart for the next event at Busch Stadium

Seats in the Shade at Cardinals Afternoon Games

Shade is sparse at Cardinals’ 12:15 or 1:15 games. During these early starts, the optimal shade strategy is to sit as far from the field as possible within any given section, taking advantage of the stadium’s overhangs which provide some relief on hot sunny days.

In the upper levels, sections 361-372 and 431-454 boast significant overhangs that offer shade to fans seated in the back half of these sections. On the lower levels, the last few rows of each section also benefit from overhead cover. This is particularly true for seats in foul territory on the 1st base side. On the other hand, seats beyond the outfield walls are sunny for the majority of a day game. As the afternoon progresses, the sun’s movement toward home plate brings increased shade to those seated close to home.

Seats close to the field have to wait the longest for shade to arrive. With the exception of sections 170-171 in left field, most outfield seats offer little to no sun protection. Even as the sun shifts westward during the game, the outfield bleachers at Busch Stadium remain sunny.

During an early afternoon game at Busch Stadium seek out shade under cover on the 1st base side of the park. Seats on the 3rd base side and in the outfield and all in the sun.
Gino Santa Maria / Shutterstock.com

Seats in the Shade at Cardinals Evening Games

Busch Stadium’s day games present a challenge with the sun, but evening games offer a shadier experience. For games starting after 6:00 p.m., it’s best to choose seats on the 3rd base side of the stadium. Fans here will enjoy the advantage of having the setting sun at their backs and seats in the shade for the duration of the game. However, fans in the right field stands and near the right field foul pole will face the sun for the initial innings until it sets completely.

During an evening game at Busch Stadium, the entire 3rd base side of the park is in the shade. Seats in right field and deep down the 1st base line are sunny the longest.
Photo by baseballmapper (CC0 1.0)

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