Sideline vs. End Zone Seats

The short answer

For watching a football game, sideline seats between the 20-yard lines are the better choice: you see the whole field, both end zones and the formations from the side, the way the game is broadcast. End zone seats cost less and give a head-on look at plays coming toward you, especially in the red zone, but the far end of the field is a long way off.

Height changes the answer more than most fans expect. A sideline seat in row 3 can show less of the game than an end zone seat in row 30, because at field level the players on the near sideline and the bench block the view.

What sideline seats do well

• The whole field: you can judge distance to the first-down marker and see both ends without turning far.
• Formations and routes: from the side and a little above, you see how the offense lines up and how routes open.
• The benches: one sideline puts you behind the home team, the other behind the visitors. Many fans pay more for the home side.

Rows matter. At most NFL stadiums, rows 15 to 30 of the lower-level sideline are the sweet spot: high enough to see over the bench area, low enough to feel close. The first rows put you at eye level with players and staff standing on the sideline, who block much of the field.

What end zone seats do well

• Price: end zone seats are usually the least expensive seats on each level.
• Depth and lanes: facing down the field, you see running lanes open, the pocket form and receivers break toward you, which is hard to judge from the side.
• Red-zone and goal-line plays: scoring drives at your end happen right in front of you, and field goals and extra points come straight at you.
• Atmosphere: many stadiums put their loudest fan sections in an end zone, such as the Hawks' Nest at Lumen Field.

The downside is the other half of the field. When play is at the far end, you rely on the video board. Higher end zone rows help, because they let you look down the length of the field instead of across it.

The corners: a middle ground

Corner sections near the goal line split the difference. You see down the field at an angle, keep one end zone close and pay less than for a sideline seat. Lower corners at about rows 15 and up are often the best value in the lower level. Avoid the lowest corner rows, where the goalpost, net and photographers can sit in the line of sight.

Upper corners are the least useful seats for following plays at the far end, though they are fine for atmosphere and usually the cheapest tickets in the stadium.

The upper deck sideline: often the smartest buy

The front rows of the upper deck along the sideline give a coach's-eye view of the whole field at a fraction of the lower-level price. At Arrowhead Stadium, for example, the upper-level sideline on the Chiefs' side is a well-known value choice. At Lumen Field, the front rows of the upper sideline hang over the club level, so they sit closer to the field than upper decks at many stadiums.

If the choice is between a low-row lower-level end zone seat and a front-row upper-deck sideline seat at a similar price, the upper sideline usually shows more of the game.

Sun, weather and other factors

For afternoon games at open-air stadiums, one sideline is in the sun and the other in shade, and the shaded side can be noticeably colder late in the season. Lower end zone rows are often the most exposed to rain and wind. Check each stadium's seating chart page for sun and roof coverage, and read The Best Seats at an NFL Game for the full list of choices.

The same logic applies to soccer. Sideline seats near midfield show tactics and spacing; end seats behind the goal are cheaper, closer to the supporters' sections and give a head-on view of attacks toward that goal.

Sources

• GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, stadium maps
• RateYourSeats, Lumen Field section 312