Going to a Rockies day game? Shade matters more at Coors than almost anywhere, you're a mile above sea level, where the thinner air lets through noticeably stronger UV. Our 3D model ray-traces every row: the third-base side and club level hold shade the longest (~78%), while the first-base/right-field side and the upper deck stay in the sun.
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▶ Hit Play to watch the shade sweep across the Coors Field bowl. Want to set your exact game date & first pitch? Open the full map ↗
Home plate at Coors faces very nearly due north, so as the afternoon sun swings through the southern sky and toward the west it loads the first-base side and right field, while the third-base/left-field side and the seats behind home slide into shade first. The one thing to respect here that no other park has: at 5,280 feet, the UV index runs higher than at sea level, so an exposed seat burns faster, shade and sunscreen both count for more.
These are the share of a typical early-afternoon game each zone holds shade in our 3D model, based on the seating-bowl geometry and the sun's real path, not a specific day's clouds:
| Section area | Level | Shaded for… |
|---|---|---|
| Third-base side | Lower & Club | ~78% of the game |
| Left-field line | Lower | ~66% |
| Behind home plate | Lower & Club | ~64-66% |
| First-base side | Lower & Club | ~48-54%, more sun |
| Upper deck / Rockpile | Upper | Mostly sun, avoid for shade |
Percentages are for a typical 1:10 PM start in midsummer; your exact game may differ. Plug your date and first pitch into the live map for a per-row read.
If shade is the priority at Coors, aim for the third-base side and get some deck over your head. The best bets:
| Seats | Why they're shaded |
|---|---|
| Third-base side, Lower & Club level | Orientation puts the afternoon sun at their backs; ~78% shaded |
| Behind home plate, back rows of the Lower/Club | Deck overhang shades them as the sun climbs and moves west |
| Any covered club/premium space | At altitude the covered areas are the surest way to beat the UV |
The first-base and right-field side bakes through the afternoon, and the upper deck, including the Rockpile bleachers in center, is wide open to the sky and stays in full sun. Front rows everywhere sit exposed until late. Remember the altitude: a sunny seat at Coors burns faster than the same seat at a sea-level park.
The third-base/left-field side and the seats behind home plate shade first, because home plate faces almost due north and the afternoon sun loads the first-base/right-field side. The club level on the third-base side holds shade the longest, around 78% of a typical day game in our model.
Yes. Coors Field sits at 5,280 feet, a mile high, where the thinner atmosphere lets through stronger UV than at sea level. A sunny seat burns faster here, so a shaded section and sunscreen matter more than they would at a lower-elevation park.
Lower and Club level on the third-base side hold shade the longest, followed by the back rows behind home plate under the deck overhang. Avoid the first-base/right-field side and the open upper deck if you want to stay cool.
For afternoon starts, target the third-base side Lower and Club levels, or a covered premium area behind home. Evening games are easy, the sun drops fast and the bowl shades within an inning or two, but even then, an early-summer first pitch can leave the first-base side sunny for a while. The interactive tool models any start time and the live weather.
Shade predictions come from a 3D ray-traced model of the seating bowl combined with the exact solar position for your date and time. The bowl geometry is a calibrated approximation, so use the map to pick a side, level and row range, then confirm the precise seat on a ticket map. Independent tool; not affiliated with MLB or the Rockies.
The rest of the NL West, same treatment:
Coors Field ranks #8 of 30 for sun exposure in MLB: the average seat sits in direct sunlight for about 124 of a 190-minute day game, or 65% of it. Full ranking and method in the sunniest seats in baseball.