Fabulous Football Weekends- Spotlight on Tampa, Florida

 

A Ticket to Tampa:  Tampa Travel Packages

Overview: Raymond James Stadium is located about 10 minutes from the Tampa International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Tampa. It is one of the most fan friendly stadiums in the NFL, with plenty of food options, bathrooms, and comfortable seats. The stadium is configured such that viewing is good from almost every seat, and the red colors that predominate throughout the stadium makes it a fun and exciting environment. Best of all, located in one end of the stadium is the famous Pirate Ship, complete with the gigantic skull that blows smoke and cannons that fire whenever the Buccaneers enter the Red Zone or score.

Tickets: In addition to the usual ticket outlets, it is easy to buy tickets to Tampa games from hawkers at the stadium. The most common place to buy tickets from other fans is just outside the main gate on the south side of the stadium. The only games that are tough buys are Green Bay and Chicago, and any game with last year's Superbowl winner. Otherwise, you should be able to get tickets fairly easily and probably will not have to pay scalper prices. If you want tickets in advance, try Craig's list or eBay before paying the high prices on ticket broker websites. Bucs tickets do not command the premium that some teams do, so do not overpay. The weather is nearly always sunny for the games, but it can be really hot at 1:00 in September and October. When you're looking for tickets, above all else, try to get on the west side, otherwise you will have the sun in your face for hours, and it can be brutal. Like most stadiums, the endzones can be rowdy. The Club seats at Raymond James are pricey, but they do allow you access to air conditioned lounges throughout the game. Ray Jay's club sections are classified Club 1, 2, and 3. Face value for club seats range from $200 per ticket for Club 3, $250 for Club 2, and $300 per ticket for Club 1. You really don't need to spend the extra dough for Club 1 seats; any of the Club seats give you the same access to the lounges.

Gameday Parking: The best place to park is in the yards of the residents who live on Himes Avenue and the side streets adjacent to Himes. The prices are usually lower than the parking lots and are much easier to exit after the game. Parking lots are available across from the stadium at the Hillsborough Community College and at Legends Field.

Best Way to Get to the Game: If you are coming from downtown or south of the stadium, use the Dale Mabry or Himes exits off of I-275. Both of these streets have decent traffic flow, and the lights stay green longer. If you try to outsmart everyone and take a side street, it does not pay off, as you have to wait forever for a signal change that doesn't last very long. In fact, even if you are coming from the Westshore area, it pays to take I-275 and exit at Dale Mabry. Traffic starts backing up about two hours prior to the game.

Other helpful hints: It's hot. Think twice about what you take to drink. Think water, water, and more water. It's expensive once you get inside the stadium, so hydrate with the cheap stuff before you go in. If you are tailgating, it's tough without shade. Some of the radio stations have hospitality tents on the east side of the stadium on Himes Avenue where you can get free food. It's a good alternative to sitting in the sun eating soggy chips and dip. Do wear clothes that wick and breathe. Forget about heavy football jerseys, jeans, or hiking boots. If you are coming from a cold weather place, and you don't have Florida clothes, there is a Wal-Mart on Dale Mabry about a half mile south of the stadium. While you are in there, buy some sun screen. You cannot go inside the pirate ship, so don't waste your time trying. It is fun to go look at it, but if you cannot get over there, you haven't missed much. The visiting teams come out of the north end tunnel opposite the pirate ship. The Bucs come out of the south end tunnel diagonal to the pirate ship. The players almost always throw stuff to the fans as they exit the field after the game. Rent a car. They are usually cheap in Florida. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Many of the car rental companies have their cars located in the terminal. It is nice not to have to take a bus to get your car, so be sure when you rent that the car company from whom you rent has its cars in the terminal and not located off site.

Where to Stay:
Rocky Point. There are several nice hotels and restaurants at Rocky Point, which is located on Highway 60 about five minutes from the airport. The good thing about Rocky Point is it is surrounded by water, close to the airport and the stadium and is on the way to the beaches in Clearwater.  Check your usual travel sites (Expedia.com, priceline.com, travelocity.com) for trip packages to Tampa.

Westshore. There are many hotels in the Westshore area, located five minutes from the airport and the stadium. There are also two huge malls in the Westshore area with plenty of restaurants and shopping. The downside is "no water" except a few retention ponds.

Downtown Tampa. Downtown Tampa has a few interesting things to see, but it isn't too lively at night. Some of the hotels are on the water, and it is nice to walk in the Channelside area and look at the cruise ships. There is a slow trolley that circulates between the hotels downtown, to Channelside and to Ybor City, the quaintly Hispanic, but out of style "clubbing" area just east of downtown. If you do decide to stay downtown, try the Marriott or another hotel that is on the water. Avoid staying downtown if you cannot be on the water.

The beaches. The nicest beaches are at least 35 minutes drive from the airport and 40 minutes from the stadium. Traffic can be really congested going to and from Clearwater Beach, which is probably the most popular beach for out-of-towners. It is easier getting to St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille, and these beaches are just as nice. Check out the Don Cesar Hotel for a nice hotel with all the amenities.

Excursions for Saturday before the game:

Disney World, Epcot, and all that stuff. You can get to Disney World in an hour and 15 minutes from Tampa. Enough said.

Busch Gardens: If standing in line for hours is not your idea of a good time, try Busch Gardens instead. Located about 20 minutes north of downtown Tampa, Busch Gardens is a smaller, more civilized version of Disney World. It has a wonderful array of animals in natural habitat, thrilling rides, and amusing entertainment. It is a fine way to spend a Saturday, whether you have children or not.

Tampa-St. Pete Museum Tour: Tampa has a decent art museum downtown and a beautiful aquarium at Channelside. If you like museums, do not miss the Salvadore Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. It is a fascinating place, and St. Petersburg's downtown is a great place to hang out for an afternoon. The City has done a much better job than Tampa of integrating the water into its downtown. Be sure to see the Vinoy Hotel; it's lovely.

Restaurants: Meat and potatoes-the favorite is the world renowned Bern's Steak House. Located about 15 minutes from the stadium, it's quite an experience. Don't miss the dessert room upstairs. Charley's has just as good steak, and is located 5 minutes from the stadium. Also in the area near the stadium-Ruth Chris, Don Schula's, Morton's-all the chains. Fish-Tampa is located on the gulf coast, so there are plenty of restaurants with fresh fish. If you don't mind the drive to Clearwater, Salt Rock Café is very popular. A little closer to the stadium is Bonefish Grill. Local fare. Tampa has a deep Cuban connection with a Hispanic population that is well integrated and important to the City. The Cuban food in Tampa is awesome. The most popular is the original Columbia Restaurant, located in Ybor City (pronounced eee-bor, do not say Y bor) about 10 minutes from the stadium. The original restaurant Is located in a lovely old Spanish-style building with a sunny courtyard in the middle. There are also a number of family-owned Cuban restaurants on Columbus street that runs a block south of the stadium. Food in these local restaurants is cheap and delicious. Stop by and pick up Cuban sandwiches for your tailgate party. Ask for them to be pressed. Delicious.

What to watch for when you do get to the game:

Flyovers. MacDill Airforce Base is in Tampa, so most games will have a flyover of some kind right after the National Anthem.

Scoreboard: The Bucs do a very cool introduction to the game that sends the fans into a frenzy. Be sure to watch for the battle of the pirate ships right before kickoff.

Redzone: When the Bucs get into the redzone, the canons are fired and smoke blows out of the skull on the pirate ship in the endzone.