Shaded Seats at George M. Steinbrenner Field

George M. Steinbrenner Field is home to the Tampa Tarpons and serves as the spring training ground for the New York Yankees. Unlike Tropicana Field across the Bay, Steinbrenner Field is completely outdoors and exposed to the elements. That can be a nice feature during MLB Spring Training, but it also means the Tarpons must content with the summer heat and humidity of Central Florida. Yankees and Tarpons fans should use this guide along with the stadium’s seating chart to find the best shaded seats at Steinbrenner Field.

Where are the shaded seats at Steinbrenner Field?

Generally, the seats in the shade at Steinbrenner Field are located:

• Behind home plate: The first seats to become shaded
• 3rd base line: Increasingly becomes shaded during the afternoon
• Under cover: Loge Club seats are covered by a small roof

Spring training games are typically scheduled for 1:05 p.m. or 6:35 p.m. Tarpons games are usually scheduled in the evening at 6:30 p.m. However, sometimes first pitch for the Tarpons is at 5:00 p.m. or even as early as noon on Sundays, putting these games during the hottest part of the day.

Steinbrenner Field Orientation to the Sun

Steinbrenner Field is oriented to the northeast. Each morning the sun rises behind center field, curves around home plate after lunchtime, and sets in the evening behind the left field corner. This orientation makes the 3rd base line the “shade side” of the ballpark and the 1st base line and outfield the sunny spots.

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 Steinbrenner Field

Seats in the Shade at Early Afternoon Steinbrenner Field Games

Shade is sparse for early day games in Tampa. Between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the sun is positioned over right field and the 1st base side of the park. However, it is so high in the sky that the only shaded seats are those directly below one of the baseline roofs. Steinbrenner Field has narrow roofs on both the 1st and 3rd base sides of the park. Seats in the Loge Club on both sides are the best bet for early day shade. Unfortunately, if you’re not able to splurge on these sections, you’ll be battling the sun for at least the first few innings.

Between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., the sun will begin to rotate around home plate, and as it dips, some shade will start to appear behind home plate. Sections 208-214 will be the first to receive consistent shade. Choose a seat in the back half of the section if possible, as the suites and press box will provide a physical barrier to the sun’s rays.

For afternoon games, seats behind home plate are the safest location for shade. Seats on the baselines are sunny though the 3rd base line becomes shaded later in the day.
Matt May / Alamy Stock Photo

Seats in the Shade at Late Afternoon Steinbrenner Field Games

Fans have a much easier time finding a shaded seat for a 4:05 game. The safest bet for shade is still behind home plate. By the later hours, both the upper and lower sections will be in the shade. Choose a seat in any of the sections 208-214 or 108-114. At this time, fans seated on the 3rd base side of the stadium will have the sun at their backs. Sections 215-218 will become shaded first, followed by sections 115-118 a bit later.

The sunniest sections are along the 1st base line. Sections 102-107 and 203-207 are in the direct path of the sun’s rays. Loge Club sections on the 1st base side are still covered, but the sun is now at an angle where it could be in your eyes, so sunglasses are a must. In right field, the terrace and cabanas are in the path of the sun, though there are tarps above to protect from the harshest rays. These areas are more appealing during Spring Training when warmth is an asset rather than a liability.

Seats in the Shade at Evening Steinbrenner Field Games

Don’t assume that evening games are completely safe from the sun. In June and July, sunset in Tampa isn’t until around 8:30 p.m. With earlier start times and shorter games due to baseball’s new pace-of-play rules, some sections remain sunny for the first several innings. Seats behind home plate and along the 3rd base line are shaded. However, seats deep down the 1st base line and in right field will face directly into the sun and stay sunny the longest.

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