Shaded Seats at Williams–Brice Stadium

Williams–Brice Stadium (also called Willy B) is one of college football’s historic venues. It is the home field for the South Carolina Gamecocks and known for its gameday atmosphere and frequent sellout crowds. Columbia has hot and humid weather and plenty of sun early in the football season. Gamecocks fans can use this guide along with the seating chart to identify the shaded seats at Williams–Brice Stadium.

Where Are the Seats in the Shade and Sun at Williams–Brice Stadium?

As a general rule, the seats in the shade at Williams–Brice Stadium:

• Under Cover: Many club-level seats are covered and shaded
• West Sideline: Mid-afternoon shade is on the Gamecocks’ home side

And the seats in the sun at Williams–Brice Stadium are mainly:

• East Sideline: Sun soaked on the away team’s side
• North End Zone: Sunny until late in the day

Gamecocks games at Willy B usually kick off at noon, 3:30 PM or 7:30 PM. Occasionally other start times are mixed into the schedule as well. For specific details about shaded sections at different start times, please continue reading.

Williams–Brice Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Williams–Brice Stadium is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is high in the sky over the south end zone. Over the course of the afternoon, it curves behind the west side of the stadium and eventually sets near the northwest corner. 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.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next event at Williams Brice Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Williams–Brice Stadium Games

Williams–Brice Stadium offers a wide variety of seating options to accommodate fans with different preferences and budgets. The stadium features seating on all sides of the field, with more options behind the south end zone than behind the north. The seating chart is strictly numeric, with lower numbers representing seats closer to the field and higher numbers farther from the field.

There is more sun than shade at Williams–Brice Stadium early in the afternoon. When the Gamecocks kick off at noon, the sun is high above the south end zone. The key to finding shade at this hour is to look for covered seating. In this case, premium and club seating offer the best bet. Behind the south end zone, Sections 801-812 are covered and stay shaded for the entire game. Traditions Club Sections 401-419 are similarly situated between the lower and upper tiers and remain comfortably covered and shaded.

The stadium also features several areas where the last few rows of certain sections are shaded by the overhang from the level above. Behind the south end zone, the last eight or so rows of Sections 10-14 are shaded thanks to the club level directly above. Similarly, Sections 101-109 and 201-209 benefit from cover. The reality is that most shaded seats at “Willy B” are premium seats, so you may need to splurge if avoiding the sun is a top priority for an early-day game.

The sunniest seats are at field level along the sidelines and in the upper level on the east (away) sideline. Sections 17-25 and 501-509 are in the direct path of the sun, and fans should expect full sun exposure for all four quarters. On the west sideline, some seats in Sections 301-309 will become shaded over the course of an early afternoon game, though field-level Sections 1-9 remain sunny for most, if not all, of the game.

Choose 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) if you like sun.
Cal Sport Media / Alamy Stock Photo

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon and Evening Williams–Brice Stadium Games

When the Gamecocks are scheduled for a 3:30 PM or later game, shade is more abundant and easier to find. Shade seekers should focus on the west (home) sideline. Fans in Sections 1-9, 101-109, 201-209, and 301-309 will find the sun at their backs and shade covering their seats.

The sunniest seats are on the east (away) side of the stadium. Sections 17-26 and 501-509 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 get shaded first, while upper-level seats will stay sunniest the longest. Club-level Sections 401-419 are mostly shaded, but may receive a blast of late-day sun, because covered seats are not always shaded seats late in the day.

Ready to buy shaded seats at Williams–Brice Stadium?

Use the individual game links or click or tap here to see the upcoming game list for Williams–Brice Stadium.