ShadeCast Support
Know your seat's shade before kickoff
Questions, bug reports, or a timing that didn't match what you saw at the game: [email protected]. Real-world corrections are especially welcome — they make the models better.
Common questions
- How does ShadeCast know where the shade falls?
- It computes the sun's position for your date and time, then tests whether the stadium's own structure — decks, canopies, overhangs, light towers — blocks it at your seat. The stadium models are built from public-domain lidar scans (USGS, or an equivalent public source) of the real buildings, not from generic building outlines.
- How accurate is it?
- Sun position is accurate to a small fraction of a degree. Shade transition times are typically good to within about 15 minutes, and the app tells you plainly when a section is modeled with less confidence.
- What does "clear-sky geometry" mean?
- ShadeCast answers where the sun's light is blocked by the stadium. Clouds are not shade in this sense — a cloudy day means everyone is comfortable regardless of what the timeline says.
- Why does a stadium say "Preview"?
- Open-air seats are accurate, but that stadium's seat-level model for covered/under-deck areas hasn't shipped yet, so those seats answer at deck level. Full seat-level stadiums are marked "Ready."
- Why does a seat show a renovation warning?
- Some stadium areas were rebuilt after the most recent public survey flight. Rather than quietly give you an answer based on a building that no longer exists, the app flags it.
- Do I need a connection?
- Yes, for the 3D imagery. The shade computation itself runs on your phone. To use a stadium with no signal, open it before you go and tap the download button next to the star ("Save for offline"): the stadium and your game's forecast stay on your phone until you remove them. The app also keeps the last few stadiums you opened, and nothing else; Settings shows what is stored and clears it. (That is version 1.7.1 and later; earlier versions keep every stadium you have opened.)
Ticket links
ShadeCast earns a commission on tickets bought through links in the app and on this site. The links appear below the shade answer and never change it — the shade answer and any ranking of sections are computed the same way whether or not a link is shown. No information about you is sent with a link. Each link says, in the link itself, "Opens <partner> · we earn a commission". See the privacy policy.
Game-day gear links
As an Amazon Associate, DAPS, LLC earns from qualifying purchases. ShadeCast may show a gear link (sunscreen, a hat, a poncho, hand warmers, a seat cushion) below the shade answer when the forecast for your seat calls for it. Each link says "Opens Amazon · we earn a commission" and opens Amazon in your browser or the Amazon app. See the privacy policy.
Privacy
ShadeCast collects nothing about you. See the privacy policy.