The best shaded seats at Angel Stadium are on the third-base side. Top picks:
- Covered Terrace Level Sections 201–213
- Back rows of Field Level Sections 109–122
- View Level (500) behind home plate and third base
- Protected seats directly behind home plate
Avoid the right-field pavilion and the first-base lower level, since both bake in the SoCal sun all afternoon.
Want to see the shade for your exact game? Check the live 3D shadow map for Angel Stadium →
Angel Stadium is about as sun-drenched as ballparks come. Anaheim is one of the sunniest cities in the entire country, with north of 280 sunny days a year and an average UV index roughly 50% higher than the typical U.S. city, and summer afternoons under the Big A regularly climb into the mid-90s. That makes finding the best shaded seats at Angel Stadium less of a luxury and more of a survival strategy for a day game. The good news: the shade here is predictable, and once you understand how the sun moves over the park, you can find a cool, comfortable seat before you ever buy a ticket. This Angel Stadium shade guide breaks down exactly where the shade develops, the specific sections that stay coolest, and which seats to avoid for a sunny Angels day game.
Table of Contents
How Shade Changes Throughout the Season
Shade at Angel Stadium changes with the month, the first-pitch time, and the angle of the sun, with sun exposure peaking during summer afternoon games from May through September. An early-April day game plays very differently from a scorching July 1:07 PM start, so the smartest move is to check the exact date and time of your game before you buy.
Using the 3D Shadow Map tool on Shady-Seats.com, you can:
- Select your specific game date
- Choose the exact first-pitch time
- Watch how shadows move across Angel Stadium inning by inning
This takes the guesswork out of finding shaded seats and shows you real projected shade for the day you're actually attending.
How Shade Works at Angel Stadium
Angel Stadium is oriented with home plate facing roughly northeast. For a typical 1:07 PM Angels day game, that puts the sun high above home plate and the first-base side early on, leaving much of the lower bowl in direct sun for the first few innings. As the afternoon goes on, the sun tracks through the southern sky and into the southwest, gradually swinging toward the third-base side and eventually setting behind the third-base and left-field stands. Because of that path, the third-base side becomes the "shade side" of the ballpark, while the first-base line and the right-field pavilion stay sun-soaked the longest.
The other thing working in your favor is the stadium's structure. The upper deck wraps around the infield and creates real overhangs above the lower bowl, and the Terrace (200) Level is fully covered. Those overhead structures are what generate dependable shade, so at Angel Stadium, the cool seats are the ones that combine the third-base side with cover overhead or back rows under an overhang.
At a day game, shade is sparse in the early innings. The seats that stay reliably cool are the ones created by:
- The covered Terrace (200) Level overhang
- Higher rows tucked under the upper-deck structure
- Elevated seating on the third-base side and behind home plate
For evening games starting around 6:38 PM, the sun is rarely a factor, though the low western sun can briefly reach first-base-side fans during the first inning or two before it drops behind the stands.
Best Shaded Seats at Angel Stadium (Regular Seating)
If you want shade at Angel Stadium, pair two things: which side of the field (third base) and how you're covered (under the Terrace overhang or high under the upper deck). Here are the specific sections that consistently offer the best shade.
Terrace Level: Sections 201–213 (Third-Base Side)
This is the single best shade play in the ballpark. The entire Terrace (200) Level sits under a structural overhang, and the third-base-side sections in the low 200s are shaded for the vast majority of an afternoon game while still keeping you close to the action. If staying out of the sun is your top priority, start here. One caveat: the front rows of the higher-numbered Terrace sections (229–233, toward the first-base side) start shaded at a 1:07 PM first pitch but slide into the sun by the late innings, so stick to the third-base end.
Field Level: Sections 109–122 (Third-Base Side), Back Rows
For the best non-premium shade down low, target the third-base-side field-level sections and sit toward the back. The rear rows here tuck under the Terrace/200 Level overhang, so they begin picking up shade by the middle innings and only improve as the sun rotates toward third base. Skip the front rows close to the field: the lower you sit, the longer you bake.
View Level (500): Sections 501–522 (Third-Base Side & Behind Home Plate)
The most budget-friendly shade in the park. Most of the upper View Level is covered, and the sections on the third-base side and directly behind home plate fall into shade earlier than the lower bowl thanks to their elevation and the roof overhead. Great views of the field, the Big A, and the center-field rock pile, without the sunburn.
Behind Home Plate (Field & Club Level)
The seats directly behind home plate are among the most protected spots in the entire stadium, shaded earlier in the day by the press box and club-level structure overhead. These are premium seats, but if your budget allows, they pair top-tier sightlines with reliable early shade.
Ready to lock in a shaded seat? Check current prices for these third-base-side sections and find your seat in the shade. Buying through our link helps keep Shady Seats free, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Seats to Avoid for Day Games
If shade is your priority, steer clear of these sun-exposed areas at Angel Stadium:
- Right-field pavilion (Sections 236–249): the sunniest seats in the park and the last to ever fall into shade, even at night games
- First-base lower level (Sections 124–135): in direct sun for most of the afternoon
- Outfield seats and anywhere near the foul poles: no overhead relief at all
- Front rows of Terrace Sections 229–233: shaded at first pitch, but in the sun by the end of a 1:07 PM game
- Front rows close to the field on either base line: these stay sunny the longest, even on the shade side
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Shade Timing for Day Games
For a typical 1:07 PM Angels start:
- Early innings (1st–3rd): The sun sits high behind home plate and the first-base side, putting most of the lower bowl in direct sun. Only the covered seats (Terrace 201–213, the View Level back rows behind home and third base, and the seats directly behind home plate) are reliably shaded.
- Middle innings (around 2:30–3:30 PM): The sun rotates toward the southwest and the third-base side; the third-base field-level sections (109–122) start catching upper-deck shade.
- Later innings: The sun drops low in the west and sets behind the third-base and left-field stands, leaving the third-base side and infield well shaded while the right-field pavilion stays sunny the longest.
For evening games, sun is rarely a concern, aside from a possible low-sun glare on the first-base side during the first inning or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
The third-base side is the shade side. Because home plate faces northeast, the sun starts high behind home plate and the first-base side, then rotates toward third base through the afternoon and sets behind the third-base and left-field stands. The first-base line and right-field pavilion stay sunny the longest.
The covered Terrace Level Sections 201–213 (third-base side) are the best overall. Also strong: the back rows of Field Level Sections 109–122, the View Level (500) behind home plate and on the third-base side, and the protected seats directly behind home plate.
Yes. The entire Terrace (200) Level sits under a structural overhang, most of the upper View Level is covered, and the back rows of the third-base field level tuck under the Terrace overhang. Keep in mind a covered seat isn't always shaded at first pitch: the overhead structures shade these areas best as the sun moves west.
Avoid the right-field pavilion (236–249), the first-base lower level (124–135), outfield and foul-pole seats, and the front rows close to the field, which all stay in direct sun the longest.
For a 1:07 PM start, there is very little shade at first pitch. Shade begins to develop in the mid-afternoon, roughly between 2:30 and 3:30 PM, as the sun moves into the southwest, with the third-base side getting shade first.
Final Thoughts
Shade at Angel Stadium is easy to plan for once you know the pattern: the third-base side is your friend, while the first-base line and right-field pavilion stay exposed. Target the covered Terrace Level Sections 201–213, the back rows of the third-base field level, or the View Level behind home plate, and you'll stay comfortable even on a brutal Anaheim afternoon. When in doubt, check your exact game date and first-pitch time on our 3D shadow map before you buy: it's the most accurate way to lock in a shaded seat.
Headed to other ballparks this summer? Check out our shade guides for Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, and Yankee Stadium to find the best shaded seats before you buy.
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