Shaded Seats at Paycor Stadium

What You Need to Know About Shade at Paycor Stadium

Located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, Paycor Stadium is the open-air home of the Cincinnati Bengals. Opened in 2000 as Paul Brown Stadium, its sleek, architectural style features a panoramic view of the Ohio River and the rolling hills of Northern Kentucky.

While the open design provides great views, early autumn games bring intense heat, meaning smart fans look to the canopy roof and deep west side overhangs to survive a 1:00 PM kickoff.

The West Sideline Is Best For Shade

The northwest-to-southeast orientation of the stadium means the sun tracks behind the home side toward the evening. Because of this, you want to prioritize the west sideline and covered seating.

• Sections 101 – 120 (Upper Rows): Sticking to the highest rows of the lower home bowl ensures you sit close to the club deck overhang, retreating into the shadow long before the fans near the field.
• Sections 201 – 221: Selecting the West Club Level guarantees that the upper deck structure blocks out the midday sun early in the second half.

• Sections 303 – 317 (Upper Rows): Tucking yourself into the top rows of the west upper deck keeps you safely under the structural canopy, making these rows the first to enjoy reliable shade.

Late Afternoon And Evening

As a 1:00 PM kickoff heads into the 4th quarter or a late 4:25 PM game gets underway, the sun drops sharply behind the west grandstand. The shadow instantly cascades across the playing field, leaving the entire Bengals Sideline (Sections 106 – 114) completely protected in the shade.

Meanwhile, the lower bowl rows on the east sideline (Sections 134 – 146) finally start getting relief from the ground up as the shadow expands across the turf.

However, the upper tiers of the East side (Sections 333 – 347) will remain caught in a harsh, direct glare right up until twilight, making sunglasses a total necessity.