Shaded Seats at Northwest Stadium

What You Need to Know About Shade at Northwest Stadium

Located in Landover, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., Northwest Stadium is the open-air home of the Washington Commanders. Opened in 1997 as FedEx Field, the stadium features a classic three-tier oval layout that is completely open to the elements.

Because the mid-Atlantic summer and early autumn weather can bring high humidity and intense afternoon temperatures, choosing seats that keep the sun at your back is essential. While the franchise has actively downsized the stadium’s original massive seating capacity over the years to add premium standing areas, targeting the home side remains the best strategy to stay cool.

The South Sideline and and Parts of the West End Zone Are 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 home side for your seating choice.

• Sections 101 – 105 & 135 – 142: Choosing these top rows in the lower bowl allows you to take advantage of the club level overhang to escape the heat early in the game.

• Sections 201 – 205 & 235 – 242: Booking these sections gives you a great mid-level view while placing you directly in line for natural structural shadow coverage.

• Sections 301 – 305 & 335 – 342: The 300-level seats ensures that you remain well-protected from direct rays while having easy access to climate-controlled concourse areas.

• Sections 401 – 406 & 450 – 454: Opting for the upper deck means you will be fully exposed to the elements for a good portion of the day, but you are guaranteed to have the sun behind you instead of in your face.

Late Afternoon And Evening

As a 1:00 PM kickoff heads into the final quarter, the shadow from the western and southern upper decks sweeps dramatically across the grass playing surface. The home sideline and the adjacent corners fall entirely into deep shade, providing a much cooler environment.

Meanwhile, the east sideline continues to bear the full weight of the afternoon glare, leaving fans on the visitor side fully exposed until the sun finally drops completely below the stadium rim.