Game Day Enthusiasm Evident at NFL Contest in Tampa - Florida

What is It - Since the merger of the NFC and the AFC into the National Football League was completed in 1970, the NFL has experienced phenomenal growth as a sport and a leader in the entertainment industry. Once played on rocky fields which overlay Major League Baseball diamonds, teams now enjoy palatial domed stadiums containing amenities that transform game day into a combination sporting event, food festival, and rock concert experience. Color television may have brought football into the nation's living rooms, but the excitement of NFL games and major college NCAA contests still draws four to five million people each weekend into America's arenas. 

NFL fans are increasingly willing to travel to other cities for an opportunity to see their favorite team in action and take in the sites of the host community. It is easy to turn a football trip into a family getaway or an occasion to meet up with friends. So, when the 2021 schedule called for the struggling New York Giants to play the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa in November on a balmy Monday night, it was worth purchasing a resold ticket to enjoy the event. I selected an end zone seat about twenty rows up from the field just to the right of the goal post. That location proved to be a good place to enjoy the game and take in the atmosphere of the stadium.

Raymond James Stadium has been renovated and improved since its original construction in 1998. It is located close to Tampa International Airport and Interstate 275 in a commercial section of the city alongside the New York Yankees' spring training facilities and close to a high-end shopping mall known as the International Plaza and Bay Street. While the stadium has been criticized as boring by some football aficionados, it was hopping with activity and filled with a spirited crowd during this contest. The following features of the facility and the experience are worth noting:

Visibility - Since I entered the stadium when it first opened 90 minutes before game time, after checking out my seat I had a chance to walk around the entire venue. There are great views of the action whether you are field side at the 40-yard line, in a skybox, up on the second or third deck, or in the end zone. The field is brightly lighted, and play is broadcast live on two huge HD video displays located in the north and south end zones. The screens are almost as wide as the playing field and are the third largest video displays in the NFL.

Fan Support - There was strong fan support for both teams throughout the game. Obviously, winning the Super Bowl and adding quarterback Tom Brady has generated great excitement in Tampa. Fans wear Buccaneer gear and react with enthusiasm to the action. The game started off as a close contest but developed into a comfortable win for Tampa Bay in the second half. Meanwhile, thousands of Giants fans visiting from up north or resettled in the Tampa area attended the game and demonstrated their allegiance to past team heroes and the Giant’s progress on the field.

A focal point at the stadium for rallying the faithful is the one-hundred-foot-long pirate ship positioned on the concourse at the north end of the field. Pregame interviews and conversations with the crowd by an animated parrot take place there. Once the action begins, the pirate ship comes alive. At various points during the game, the PA system plays the song “A Pirate's Life for Me” while the crew on deck throws t-shirts and other prizes to the fans in the end zone. Team flags are hoisted by the pirates whenever the Buccaneers enter the opponent's red zone, and when a touchdown or field goal is scored, a live cannon fires once for each point scored. 

Entertainment Activities - There are activities taking place on the field and around the stadium throughout the event. At this game, three U.S. Army rangers parachuted into the stadium carrying the game ball and various flags. Then there was a patriotic ceremony where 150 young people enlisting in the armed forces took their oath of office followed by the national anthem. During halftime, the Buccaneers’ management and a group of past teammates honored John Lynch who was recently inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame after a career with the Buccaneers. Throughout the contest, the team cheerleaders led the crowd in various dances and chants.

Concessions and Other Facilities - There is no shortage of concession booths and other points of sale to purchase food, beverages, team merchandise, and memorabilia throughout the stadium. Local specialties such as Cuban sandwiches, barbecue, and gulf seafood are available along with traditional football fare. There was a wide selection of beers available as well as mixed drinks in standalone cafe areas. Although most concession areas are on the interior concourse away from the field, the end zone areas have huge open spaces for people to eat, drink, and still see the field and the video boards to enjoy game action.

Other Observations - There are ten huge parking lots adjacent to the stadium which are set up so there is room for people to tailgate with small tents and grills. The Buccaneers have also created their own tailgating events at several venues outside of the stadium. These tailgating picnics include buffets, bars, live music, video screens, and visits from cheerleaders and dignitaries for three hours preceding the game. The character of the NFL crowd at the stadium was also refreshing. Despite a full house and long lines, it seemed like a venue that someone would feel comfortable bringing their child or a companion to without having to be concerned about being harassed or bothered by drunken or obscene behavior. The only difficult part of the evening was the absence of post-game parking lot attendants to oversee the rows of cars seeking to exit the lots onto local roads simultaneously.

When to Go to an NFL Game - In southern and western NFL cities like Tampa, mild winters and domed stadiums provide a nice climate for enjoying football throughout the season. Northern stadiums with outdoor seating are popular with traditionalists who look forward to sub-zero conditions in Green Bay, Wisconsin or freezing rain in Foxboro, Massachusetts. But with the NFLs longer season and playoff rounds, mud bowls and frigid conditions are likely to become less common at NFL games. If you decide to go to an NFL game out of your home region, be sure to evaluate the weather and prepare accordingly to enjoy fully the experience.

Where to Go - Obviously, going to see your favorite team at their home stadium is tough to beat if you can get tickets. But group getaways or weekend trips to sporting events across the country are becoming increasingly common. Players on both Los Angeles NFL teams and the Las Vegas Raiders have publicly complained about losing their home field advantage because of the substantial number of tickets being sold to out of towners and certain teams that have a strong national following. Make the most of your NFL excursion by trying to pick a game that will be competitive and take place in temperate conditions at a decent facility.