Shaded Seats at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium

Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium is one of college football’s most distinguished venues. As the home field of the Texas Longhorns, the stadium is renowned for its passionate crowds and game-day traditions. Austin has a hot and sunny climate, especially during the early weeks of the football season. Longhorns fans heading over for a game can use this guide along with the seating chart to find the shaded seats at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at Texas Memorial Stadium?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium:

• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade on the Longhorns home side

And the seats in the sun are mainly:

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the away team’s side
• End Zones: Sunny for most of the day

Longhorns games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium sometimes kickoff in the early afternoon, sometimes in the mid-afternoon and sometimes in the evening. Occasional 11:00 AM kick offs are included as well to accommodate the national television schedule. Morning games have unique shade dynamics so make sure to check out our post to navigate morning starts.

Texas Memorial Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium is oriented north to south. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the southeast corner near the end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it curves and dips behind the west side of the stadium, where it eventually sets. This configuration generally makes the west side of the stadium the “shade side,” while the east side is the sunniest.

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

See an interactive seating chart for the next event at Texas Memorial Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Texas Memorial Stadium Games

Texas Memorial Stadium is a historic stadium that has been renovated over the years into a modern, professional venue. Its current configuration is asymmetric, with a roughly equal number of seats on the sidelines but more seats behind the north end zone than the south. The south end zone features a limited number of seats in front of the video board. The stadium is otherwise completely open to the elements, with no canopy or roof to block out the sun.

When the Longhorns kick off early in the afternoon, or even in the morning, the sun is high, and shade is sparse. Between noon and about 2:00 PM, the sun floats across the sky over the south end zone. Shade may reach seats in Sections 33-44 during these hours, as the video board provides a barrier between the sun and the seats, with the best chance for shade in Sections 36-41 and in the rows closest to the video board.

Seats on both sidelines and behind the north end zone are sunny early in the day. The last six to eight rows in Sections 1-8 are under the cover of the upper deck. If you are sensitive to the sun but not able to spring for a premium suite, you may be able to avoid the sun here. Otherwise, expect the Texas sun to shine on most seats and sections in the early afternoon.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon and Evening Texas Memorial Stadium Games

When the Longhorns kick off at 2:30 PM or in the 3:00 hour, there is quite a bit more shade, and finding it is more predictable. At the start of a mid-afternoon game, the sun is making its descent behind the west (home) side of the stadium. Shade seekers should focus on Sections 1-8 and 101-109. Fans in these sections will have the sun at their backs, with shade covering their seats as it dips behind the stadium structure.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away team) side of the stadium. Sections 25-32 and 124-132 are sun-soaked at the start of a mid-afternoon game. As the game progresses, the shade line will cross the field and begin covering seats on the east side from lowest to highest. Field-level seats will become shaded first, followed by the club seats, and finally the upper deck.

Seats behind the end zones start mid-afternoon games in the sun, but as the shade line crosses the field, they begin to become shaded as well. For evening games, the end zones should be relatively safe from the sun for all or most of the game.

Pick a seat on the west side of the stadium (where the photo is taken) if you’re seeking shade or on the east side (across the field) for maximum sun.
John Rivera/Icon Sportswire

Ready to buy shaded seats at Texas Memorial Stadium?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see the upcoming game list for Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium.