Shaded and Covered Seating at Guaranteed Rate Field

Finding Shade in the Early Afternoon

During the warm summer months in Chicago, most White Sox day games begin at 1:10 PM. With the sun straight overhead, there aren't a lot of options for escaping the heat and finding shade. Besides for the enclosed Home Plate Club, fans will find shade in the back rows of 100 level seating on the first base side of the field and in the back rows of 500 level seats on the same side.

Photo adapted from Wikimedia

Best Shaded Seats

If you're looking for shaded seats close to the field, your options will be fairly limited. When the game starts, you'll find shade in rows 30 and above and in sections 117-129 and rows. These sections and rows offer a good balance of quality views, protection from the sun and close access to the concourse and all its amenities. If you'd prefer to sit closer to the field or in club seats on the 300 level, you'll still want to choose seats on the first base side. But you'll have to wait until the later innings for the shade to reach your seats.

Seats to Avoid

During a 1:10 game, the worst seats to sit in are found on the third base side of the field and in the outfield. None of the outfield seats are covered and almost every single one of them is fully exposed to the sun's rays from the first pitch to the last out. And while parts of the 100 level and 500 level are covered on the third base side, these seats will come susceptible to the sun especially in the later innings.

Shaded Seating For Events After 3:00

Some of the hottest White Sox games are the 3:05 starts during June, July and August. When buying tickets for these games, you'll want to choose seats exclusively on the first base side of the field. All 300 (club) and 500 level seats will be shaded and much cooler than the rest of the ballpark. Most lower lower level rows on this side will also be in the shade at first pitch, and will be fully shaded by 4:00-4:30.

Best Seats For a 3:05 Start

With nearly half the stadium fully shaded for mid-afternoon games, there are plenty of options for choosing great seats. If you're an out-of-town fan, consider sections 122-127 where you'll be behind the visiting team dugout and have great views of your favorite players. Otherwise, consider club level sections 320-330 which offer some of the best views in the ballpark, along with club level amenities like in-seat wait service and access to the indoor club concourse.

Avoid Anything in Left Field

Photo Adapted from Wikimedia 

For a 3:05 start (and really any time in the afternoon or early evening), completely avoid anything down the left field line and especially outfield seats on that side of the field. Sections 155-161 are among the sunniest in in all of baseball and will leave you with a severe sun burn and dehydration if you don't cover your skin properly and drink plenty of water. Even seats down the line in the club level (like 342-357) and upper deck (542-558) are highly exposed to the sun's rays in the early innings. They'll eventually see relief as the game continues, but by then it will be too late.