Shaded Seats at Empower Field at Mile High

What You Need to Know About Shade at Empower Field at Mile High

Located in Denver, Colorado, Empower Field at Mile High is the open-air home of the Denver Broncos. Opened in 2001 to replace the historic Mile High Stadium, the venue is situated at an elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level, which can make the sun feel exceptionally intense on cloudless days.

The stadium features a distinct undulating upper bowl shape that mimics the nearby Rocky Mountains. While late autumn games bring crisp mountain air, early September home games frequently experience temperatures reaching into the 90s, making strategic seating choice behind the home bench highly advantageous.

The West Sideline Is Best For Shade

The north-to-south 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 135, 100 – 110: Choosing these lower bowl sections means you will get shade earlier in the afternoon, though you should still expect direct sun during the early portions of a 1:00 PM kickoff.

• Sections 300 – 315: Booking these mid-level club sections gives you elevated sightlines that transition into comforting shadow during the second half of the game.

• Sections 500 – 515: Opting for the upper deck means you will still be exposed to the elements for the majority of the day, but the main advantage is that the hot sun remains behind your back instead of blinding your field view.

Late Afternoon And Evening

As an early afternoon game moves into the fourth quarter, the massive shadow cast by the towering west grandstand lengthens across the entire playing field.

The west sideline is fully protected at this point, providing a much cooler environment. Meanwhile, the east sideline stays completely illuminated by the remaining daylight, with the high rows of the upper east side receiving the brunt of the heat until the sun finally drops low enough behind the western rim to submerge the entire bowl into twilight.