Best Seats At Raymond James Stadium
Tampa’s stadium leads with something no other NFL building can claim: a 103-foot, 43-ton pirate ship permanently moored behind the north end zone, cannons loaded, ready to fire seven times every time the Buccaneers find the end zone. That’s the personality of the place. “Ray Jay” opened in 1998, hosted three Super Bowls, and watched the Bucs become the only team in history to win one at home in 2021.
It’s also wide open to the sky, which is the one honest reality you plan around here — a 1:00 September kickoff in Tampa is a genuinely hot afternoon, and the team is now floating a billion-dollar renovation that would finally put shade canopies over a chunk of the seating. Pick your section with the sun in mind and the rest of the day takes care of itself.
Seating Overview
Raymond James is a symmetrical, easy-to-read bowl, so the real decision isn’t where’s the good view — almost everywhere has one — it’s how you trade off proximity, price, and how much direct Florida sun you’re willing to sit in. For a football crowd that means weighing the sideline-versus-end-zone call against shade, and deciding whether the pirate-ship spectacle is worth giving up a clean look at the far side of the field.
Best Non-Premium Seats
The lower sideline, sections 110–140. This is the lower bowl wrapping the field on both sidelines, and it’s where the standard tickets earn their keep. The home (west) sideline puts you behind the Buccaneers bench, which sits in front of sections 109–112; the visiting bench is across the way in front of 134–137. Aim for rows in the teens through the twenties — high enough to see plays develop, low enough to feel the game.
Near midfield, the 120s. The sections clustered around the 50-yard line deliver the best straight-on sightlines in the building. You pay for that center-cut angle, but if you want one clean look at the whole field with no compromises, this is it.
Buccaneer Cove end, around sections 145–151. The north end zone behind the pirate ship trades the perfect football angle for the most atmosphere in the stadium — cannon smoke, beads and shirts raining down during the “Mini Gasparilla,” and the best photos you’ll take all day. You’re watching the game at an angle, but you’re inside the show.
Best Value Seats
The 200-level corners. The middle tier wraps the stadium with seats that sit higher than the lower bowl but keep you close enough to read the game, and the corner sections here are the smart-money pick — you get the elevation that opens up play design for noticeably less than a sideline lower-bowl seat. The deep rows also tuck partly under the upper deck, which matters more than the view on a hot day.
Upper-deck sidelines, the 300s. If you care about angle over distance, a sideline seat up top gives you a better view of formations and coverage than a lower-bowl corner for less money. The center-line upper sections are the value sweet spot.
Cheapest Way In
Upper-deck corners and end zones. The least expensive real tickets in the building live in the upper-level corners and behind the end zones. The view is distant and the climb is real, but the bowl’s symmetry means there’s no truly bad sightline up here — you’re just far. For a first NFL game on a budget, or a blowout you mostly want the atmosphere of, these do the job.
Preseason and lower-demand opponents. The genuine cheapest path isn’t a section, it’s a date. Pick a preseason game or a midweek non-rival and lower-bowl seats fall to upper-deck prices on the resale market.
Our Pick
If you’re handing one piece of advice to a friend on their first Bucs game, get them in the lower sideline in the 110s–130s, rows 15–25, on the home (west) side — close to the action, behind the Bucs bench, and on the side that catches afternoon relief as the sun drops behind the west stand. It’s the seat that makes the building feel like its best self.
Heat & Shade
Be honest with yourself about the sun, because Raymond James doesn’t have much shade and the team knows it — roughly half of the proposed billion-dollar renovation is earmarked for canopies to cover seating, the same fix the Dolphins used at Hard Rock Stadium. Until that exists, the durable play for a hot early-season day game is to buy the deepest rows you can in the 200 level, where they tuck under the overhang of the upper deck, or sit under the upper-deck overhang itself. Hydrate, wear a hat, and bring sunscreen regardless of section.
A few things are reliably true. Night games solve the problem entirely — an 8:00 kickoff starts after dark. December and January games are some of the most pleasant in the NFL, mild and comfortable. And fans repeatedly flag the fully exposed upper west sideline, the 340s and up, as the worst sun in the house for a September or October afternoon. Which side falls into shade first during an afternoon game depends on kickoff time and where the upper-deck shadow lands, so don’t pay a premium chasing a specific “shady side” — chase the overhang.
What to Avoid (and What’s Worth Trying Once)
The upper west sideline, 340s and beyond, for early-season day games. Great height, brutal exposure. In September that’s two hours of direct sun with no relief, and it’s the most common seat-regret you’ll hear about this stadium.
Front rows of the upper deck corners. The angle into the near corner gets awkward and you lose the far end of the field behind the railing. A few rows back is a better seat for the same money.
Worth it once: the Buccaneer Cove end behind the ship. Purists will tell you the end zone is a compromised football view, and it is. But sitting within cannon range when the Bucs score — smoke, noise, the parrot heckling the crowd, shirts flying — is a only-in-Tampa experience worth doing at least one time.
Premium Seating & Clubs
Premium at Raymond James splits cleanly between two big air-conditioned club lounges on the middle level — one on each sideline — plus all-inclusive lounge seating and the suites above them. In Florida, the climate-controlled part isn’t a luxury, it’s the whole point.
The Best Premium Experience
Seats at the 50, in the west club (the Hyundai Club). This is the standout because it stacks the building’s best home-side sightlines on top of a genuinely all-inclusive ticket: a 50-yard-line seat, a private lounge set aside just for these members inside the roughly 60,000-square-foot west club, and an included buffet and bar with the gameday food, beer, wine, and premium liquor built into the price.
The west club itself is the showpiece space — gleaming hardwood, three bar areas, and the 10,000-square-foot team store with the largest Bucs merch selection anywhere. If money isn’t the question, this is the one.
Best Value Premium
The East Stadium Club, anchored by Bar 76. This is the premium ticket to actually reason about. You get the same climate-controlled escape from the heat, padded sideline seats in the 200 level on the east side, and a 64,000-square-foot club built around Bar 76 — a 10,000-square-foot bar and restaurant with 50-plus screens, culinary stations, and local Tampa Bay craft brews.
The catch that makes it the value play: food and drink here are pay-as-you-go rather than all-inclusive, so you skip the premium-lounge price tag while keeping the AC, the bar, the shorter restroom lines, and a great seat. For most fans who want the upgrade without the suite money, this is the call.
Other Premium Options
The Hall of Fame Club sits on the east suite level — an intimate, all-inclusive space with a 180-degree view through sliding glass windows and in-seat food and drink service. The Champions Lounge is the other all-inclusive lounge, with a top-shelf bar, craft and import beers, a private wine selection, and food delivered to your seat behind the glass.
And the traditional 200-level club seats on either sideline are the “lite” version — wider padded seats and club-concourse access, but you buy your own food and drink. All three describe themselves by comfort and inclusivity more than location, so match the one you book to whether you want all-inclusive or just the upgrade.
Suites & Group Options
The 134 renovated luxury suites hold groups of 8, 16, or 36, with open floor plans, retractable windows, multiple HDTVs, granite finishes, concierge service, premium catering, and VIP parking passes. They’re booked through the Buccaneers directly or a suite marketplace, and they’re the move for a corporate group or a milestone outing where the room matters as much as the game.
Raymond James Stadium Seating Chart
Raymond James Stadium holds about 65,890 for Buccaneers games, with a listed football capacity near 69,000 and room to expand toward 75,000 for special events and major concerts using temporary seating. The all-time record is 74,512, set at the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.
The bowl is built in three tiers: the Lower Level (100s, roughly sections 102–151), the club/middle level (200s), and the upper deck (300s and 400s). It’s oriented north–south, with the pirate ship and Buccaneer Cove behind the north end zone and the home sideline on the west. One layout quirk worth knowing before you climb: the upper decks don’t connect side to side up top — to get from the east upper deck to the west, you have to come back down to the main concourse.
The capacity of Raymond James Stadium is up to 75,000, featuring multiple levels and premium seating options. Here is a look at the Interactive Raymond James Stadium Seating Chart.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tickets
Bucs demand swings hard by opponent and weather. Marquee opponents and pleasant late-season dates (November through January) hold their price; early-season afternoon games against weaker opponents are where the secondary market routinely dips below face, especially as kickoff approaches and season-ticket holders dump heat-of-the-day seats they’d rather skip.
If you’re flexible, a December home game is both the best weather and often the best value of the season. For day games, factor the sun into what a section is actually worth — a shaded or overhang seat is worth paying up for in September, and the same seat is irrelevant in primetime.
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Raymond James Stadium Bag Policy
This is the one that surprises people, so read it first: Raymond James runs a no-bag policy, stricter than the typical NFL clear-bag rule. The only bag allowed inside is a single small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches — no clear totes, no backpacks, no drawstring bags.
Everything else goes back to your car or into the rental storage lockers on Tom McEwen Boulevard, just south of the Suzuki Marine Gate. Every fan passes through metal detection on the way in.
Is Raymond James Cashless & Venue Policies
Raymond James is fully cashless. Every concession stand, bar, team store register and parking lot takes cards or mobile pay only. Season members pay with the Krewe Card in the Bucs app, which carries their member discounts and Krewe Cash.
Alcohol: There’s a two-drink limit per purchase, and you’ll need ID. Concourse stands stop serving at the start of the fourth quarter, while the clubs can serve until the game ends.
Accessibility: Wheelchair and accessible seating is spread throughout the stadium. Guest Services booths behind Sections 102, 119, 127, 144, 310 and 336 can handle accessible-seating relocations and hand out the stadium’s accessibility guide.
Check out the stadium policies page for up to date info.
Getting To Raymond James Stadium
The stadium sits at 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, about five miles from both downtown Tampa and the airport, in a parking-ringed pocket off a busy highway — which shapes every arrival decision. Traffic stacks up on Dale Mabry well before kickoff, so the best plan is usually the one that keeps you off it.
Raymond James Stadium Parking
There are about 10,000 spots on-site and another 15,000 nearby. Of the 14 official lots, nine are season-ticket-holder only and five open to the public on a first-come, first-served drive-up basis — you pay on entry, cashless, and prices vary by event. Advance parking is available for Bucs, Bulls, and bowl games, and it’s worth buying ahead for marquee dates. RVs, buses, and campers head to Lot 14 off MLK Boulevard.
The cheaper move is to skip the official lots: off-site private and residential lots on Himes, Dewey, and Ohio run roughly $16–20 and book on apps like ParkMobile and SpotHero, and the Hillsborough Community College lot is a budget option a short walk out. Many of the public lots allow tailgating, which is where the pregame scene actually lives.
Public Transit & Shuttles
HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) buses are the cheap option, and the agency expands service on Buccaneers gamedays. Routes 32, 36, and 45 run the Dale Mabry and Himes corridors past the stadium for about $2 one-way; the nearest stops are Himes Avenue at Tampa Bay Boulevard and Tampa Bay Boulevard at Hillsborough Community College, a short walk from the gates. Route 32 connects from Tampa International Airport.
One thing to know: the TECO Line Streetcar does not reach the stadium — it only serves downtown and Ybor, so from downtown you’d take the streetcar to a transfer and catch a HART bus north. There’s no official team shuttle, but private crowdsourced services like Rally run round-trip game buses from pickup points around the area if you’d rather skip parking entirely.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft drop off at the Mass Transit Turnaround on the northwest side, next to the pedestrian bridge. After the game, pickup moves across Dale Mabry to Steinbrenner Field (the Yankees’ spring-training ballpark) — cross on the pedestrian bridge. From downtown expect roughly $15–25 and about 10 minutes; from the airport, $16–20. Post-game surge of 2x–3x is standard, so the move is to walk over to Steinbrenner Field early and beat the rush, or grab a drink and wait 30 minutes for prices to settle.
Raymond James Stadium Insider Tips
A Bucs game at Raymond James runs on pirate time. The party starts outside hours before kickoff, a full-size ship fires its cannons every time Tampa Bay scores, and the crowd follows a script it expects you to know. Get there early, learn two chants, plan around the Florida sun, and the rest of the day takes care of itself.
The Raymond James Stadium Pirate Ship
Count the cannons: one blast per point. The 103-foot, 43-ton replica ship in the north end zone fires seven times for a touchdown and extra point and three for a field goal, plus a single shot every time the Bucs reach the red zone. On red-zone trips, watch the rim of the upper deck too, where crews raise team flags around the bowl.
Stand at the Buccaneer Cove railing for the close-up. The ship anchors Buccaneer Cove, a 20,000-square-foot fishing-village set behind the north end zone, built by the same company that makes props for Walt Disney World. The skull on the bow has glowing red eyes and breathes smoke.
Say hello to the parrot on the stern. It’s animatronic, run by a radio-remote operator who picks fans out of the crowd below and talks to them. Kids love it, and it has no problem roasting grown-ups in rival jerseys.
Don’t plan on boarding during a game. The ship is crew-only on gameday. The one way aboard is a weekday stadium tour, covered below.
What Time Do Gates Open at Raymond James Stadium?
Main gates open 90 minutes before kickoff; club gates open 2.5 hours out. Parking lots, Bucs Beach and the Bucs Kids Zone all open 3.5 hours before kickoff, so the outside party is well underway before anyone gets in. Club and suite ticket holders use the dedicated Hyundai Club (west) and East Club entrances.
Enter at the gate printed on your ticket. The four general-admission gates are the Ford Gate, Gate B, Suzuki Marine Gate and Fifth Third Bank Gate. Using the one on your ticket drops you closest to your section.
Register for Express Entry and skip the ticket scan. It’s free and optional: link your Ticketmaster account, upload a selfie, and walk the facial-authentication lanes without pulling out your phone. Guests on your account can come through with you, but anyone you’ve transferred tickets to must register on their own.
Load your tickets before you reach the gate. Every ticket and parking pass is mobile only, and the barcode refreshes, so screenshots and PDFs are rejected. Open the Bucs app in the lot, not in the security line.
Be in your seat 15 minutes before kickoff for The Raid. That’s the team introductions, the ship-battle hype video and the Buc Beat Line and cheerleaders, and it’s the loudest the building gets before the game starts.
Bucs Beach and the Bucsparilla Invasion
Go to Bucs Beach, ticket or not. It’s in the South Plaza off Tampa Bay Blvd, it’s free and open to the public, and it’s actual sand, with palm trees, Adirondack chairs, five tiki bars and a live DJ. It opens 3.5 hours before kickoff and closes at the start of the first quarter.
Have your pregame drinks on the sand. Bucs Beach pours 12-ounce domestics for $6.50 and imports for $10, which is about the best beer price you’ll see all day.
Be at Bucs Beach 15 minutes before gates open for Bucsparilla. A pirate ship sails down Tampa Bay Blvd to the Buc Beat Line, Captain Fear’s Krewe storms the beach tossing beads and T-shirts, and live cannon fire signals the gates opening. It’s the team’s nod to Gasparilla, Tampa’s January pirate-invasion festival, and it’s the best free show of the day.
Book a Pregame Veranda Tailgate if you want everything handled. These all-inclusive tailgates run from three hours before kickoff until kickoff, with food stations, beer, wine and spirits, in three corners: the Crooked Pop Tailgate (southeast, outside the Suzuki Marine Gate), the Jameson Tailgate (northeast, outside Gate B) and the Pepsi Tailgate (southwest, outside the Fifth Third Bank Gate). Your game ticket is sold separately.
Tailgating at Raymond James Stadium
Tailgate in any stadium lot, but only behind your own car. You get one 10-by-24-foot space, saving spots isn’t allowed, and tents, chairs and grills can’t block aisles, walkways or neighboring spaces.
Pack it up at kickoff. Tailgating must stop when the game starts, and your parking pass won’t get you back into the lot if you leave.
Leave the keg, the big tent and the football at home. Kegs are banned, tents over 10 by 10 feet need prior approval, throwing or kicking balls in the lots is prohibited, and loud speakers will get you a visit from staff.
Park RVs and campers in Lot 14, entering off MLK Blvd. It’s the designated lot for campers over 24 feet and buses on Bucs gamedays. No overnight parking is allowed anywhere on stadium property.
Buy your parking pass early. The Bucs say single-game parking prices rise as gameday gets closer, and every lot is cashless.
Raymond James Stadium Food and Drinks
Bring a card or phone, not cash. Every food, drink and merchandise stand in the building is cashless.
Order the Tampa 2 at Section 132. It’s a Tampa Cuban with a 24-ounce Pepsi for $22, and it’s the sandwich you should eat in this city.
Find the Chef Series stand at Section 108. A different local chef creates a one-game-only dish for every home game, and Section 108 on the main concourse is the location open to everyone (the other two are in the Hyundai Club at 212 and the Stadium Club at 237).
Feed kids off the value menu. $10 kids meals (hot dog, chips and water) are at Sections 110, 124, 136, 213, 238, 309 and 334, and a $20 family meal of two hot dogs, chips and a soda is at 307, 309 and 334.
Book The Patio if you’d rather never wait in line. It’s an all-inclusive grab-and-go space on the main concourse with unlimited food, beer, wine and spirits, open from 90 minutes before kickoff to the end of the third quarter. It sells out, and it requires a game ticket too.
Meet your group at the Corona Cove in the north end zone. It’s the stadium’s gathering bar near the ship, and it’s the easiest landmark in the building to give a friend.
Get your last beer before the fourth quarter. Concourse stands stop serving alcohol at the start of the fourth quarter, while the clubs can pour until the final whistle. There’s a two-drink limit per purchase.
Pledge to drive and your sodas are free. Designated drivers who are 21 or older can sign up at any Guest Services booth with a valid license for a free soft drink coupon.
How to Get Out of Raymond James Stadium After the Game
Meet your rideshare across Dale Mabry at Steinbrenner Field. Uber, Lyft and taxi pickup and drop-off are both at the Yankees’ spring training ballpark across the highway. Agree on a meeting spot before you leave your seat, because the crowd heading that way is huge.
Use Decide to Ride if you’ve been drinking. Guest Services booths can set you up with a discounted rideshare home through the stadium’s safe-ride program.
Open Waze before you start the engine. The stadium itself recommends it for real-time traffic and road closures around the lots, and it’ll route you off Dale Mabry faster than following the crowd.
Car won’t start? Raise the hood. For a dead battery, lockout or empty tank in the lots, call the Stadium Office at 813-350-6501, pop your hood, or flag an officer at any lot entrance.
Best Photo Spots at Raymond James Stadium
Shoot the ship mid-broadside from the Cove railing. The red-zone cannon shot is your warning, so start filming when the Bucs cross the 20 and you’ll catch the touchdown salvo and the smoke.
Frame the whole bowl from an upper-deck corner. You get the ship, the field and the red flags going up around the rim against a blue Florida sky.
Get your pregame photos at Bucs Beach. The cheerleaders make appearances there, and the sand and palms make for a shot that could only be taken in Tampa.
Bucs Chants and Gameday Traditions
Answer “First down, Tampa” with “BAY!” The PA announcer handles the first half of every Bucs first down; the crowd handles the second.
Spell it out after every scoring drive. The chant is “B-U-C C-A-N E-E-R-S… GO BUCS!” and it rolls around the whole bowl.
Join the TAMPA–BAY split when the boards call for it. One side yells “TAMPA” and the other answers “BAY,” a tradition carried over from the old Tampa Stadium, the Big Sombrero.
Get under the ship when “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” plays. It’s the “Mini Gasparilla,” when the crew on deck showers Buccaneer Cove with beads and T-shirts.
Watch the first break of the game for the Captain of the Krewe. A Bucs legend or a famous member of the fanbase takes the mic and orders the cannons to fire.
Dig out your throwback gear for the Creamsicle Game. The Bucs stage one retro game every year, with era-inspired entertainment and field elements. In 2026 it’s December 6 against the Chargers, with the team in the white 1976 uniforms.
Your First Bucs Game: The One Thing Not to Miss
Watch one Bucs touchdown from Buccaneer Cove. Seven cannon blasts, smoke rolling over the end zone, flags going up and a full stadium spelling out B-U-C-C-A-N-E-E-R-S is the moment you’ll remember. Even if your seat is on the sideline, walk down to the Cove for one red-zone trip.
The Buccaneers App
Use the Bucs app as your ticket, map and wallet. It holds your mobile tickets, the stadium map and the Krewe Card, where member discounts and Krewe Cash live. Hyundai Club and Stadium Club guests can also order food to their seats through Bucs Drop.
Play Bucs Bingo and track the Watch & Win promos. Bingo runs in the app during the game, and the promos pay off in real ways: 10 Bucs first downs unlocks free Busch Gardens admission through Kane’s Furniture while supplies last, and 20 home points can earn a free Chick-fil-A entrée in that chain’s app.
Text FAQ to 813-870-2700 for quick answers. The team’s virtual help line covers most gameday questions, and staff in “How May I Help You?” shirts handle the rest in person.
Buccaneers Team Store at Raymond James Stadium
Shop without a game ticket. The 10,000-square-foot team store is on the west side of the stadium, open to the public through the Lot D entrance off Tampa Bay Blvd, and it carries the biggest Bucs selection anywhere.
Shop before or after the game, because it closes during it. On gamedays it opens 3.5 hours before kickoff and stays open until one hour after the final whistle, but it’s not accessible while the game is on.
Personalize a jersey on the spot. The Custom Gear Shop inside the store puts your name or a player’s number on red, white, pewter, ’76 and Creamsicle jerseys.
Or skip the crowd and come on a weekday. Outside of gamedays the store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed Sundays and on other stadium event days.
Know Before You Go: Raymond James Stadium Quirks
Leave your bag in the car, even a clear one. This is a no-bag stadium, not a clear-bag stadium: the only bag allowed is a clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. If you arrive with one anyway, rent a locker on Tom McEwen Blvd, south of the Suzuki Marine Gate.
Pack a poncho, not an umbrella. Umbrellas are prohibited, and early-season afternoon storms are a fact of life in Tampa.
Bring lotion sunscreen. Aerosol and spray sunscreen are banned at the gate.
Chase shade on the west side. The sun sets behind the west (home) sideline, so shade creeps across it as the afternoon goes on, starting in the southwest corner around Sections 216–220. The east sideline and the north end zone by the ship stay in the sun longest.
Charge your phone at a TECO station. They’re near Sections 103, 119, 128, 144, 316 and 341, with two more inside the clubs near 216 and 241.
Text 813-680-2827 if something’s wrong. It’s the stadium’s line for fan or facility issues that need someone right away.
Raymond James Stadium with Kids
Buy every child a ticket, including babies. At Bucs games, everyone needs a ticket regardless of age.
Leave the stroller in the car. Strollers are prohibited at Bucs games, so plan on a carrier for little ones.
Start at the free Bucs Kids Zone in Lot 6D. It’s just south of Bucs Beach, with inflatables, football drills run by the Bucs Street Team, cornhole, a uniform try-on station and cheerleader visits. It opens 3.5 hours before kickoff and closes 30 minutes before.
Use a sensory room if the noise gets to be too much. Two KultureCity-certified rooms sit on the main concourse, behind Section 120 (next to first aid) and behind Section 131; check in at the Guest Services booth across from each. Any Guest Services booth can also lend a sensory bag with noise-canceling headphones.
Nurse or change in a private room. Nursing rooms are on the main concourse near Sections 118 and 143, with more inside both clubs.
Name a Guest Services booth as your lost-kid meeting point. Booths sit behind Sections 102, 119, 127 and 144 on the main concourse and 310 and 336 upstairs. Point one out when you arrive.
Autographs and Pregame Warmups
Get in at gate opening and head for the rails behind the Bucs bench. The home bench fronts Sections 109–112 on the west sideline (visitors are in front of 134–137), and that’s where players pass closest during warmups. There’s no scheduled autograph session on gamedays, so signatures are up to the players, and the front rails fill fast.
For a real shot at autographs, go to training camp. The Bucs open select summer practices to fans, and the setting is far more relaxed than a Sunday. Check the team’s camp schedule in July.
Raymond James Stadium Tours
Book a weekday tour to board the pirate ship. The 75-minute walking tour visits the ship, a Stadium Club, a luxury suite, the 8am Hall of Fame Club, the visiting and USF locker rooms, and the field. Tickets are $16.56 for adults, $10.35 for kids 5–11 and free for 4 and under, plus Florida sales tax.
Book on Friday morning. Tours run Monday through Friday, and the next week’s slots post every Friday morning on a first-come basis. There are no walk-ups, tours during event weeks can be canceled, and you’ll walk nearly a mile, so wear comfortable shoes.
USF Bulls, Bowl Games, Florida-Georgia and the 2029 CFP Championship
Catch the USF Bulls’ last season at Ray Jay. USF has played here since 1998, but its 35,000-seat on-campus stadium opens September 4, 2027, against Louisville, making 2026 the Bulls’ final year in the building.
Put two bowl games on the holiday calendar. The Gasparilla Bowl is played here in December, and the ReliaQuest Bowl, still known to many fans as the Outback Bowl, fills the stadium around New Year’s.
Plan ahead for Florida–Georgia in 2027. “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” moves to Raymond James for the 2027 season while Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium is renovated. It’s the first time the rivalry has been played in Tampa since 1919, and it returns to Jacksonville in 2028.
Mark January 22, 2029, for the CFP National Championship. Tampa becomes one of only four cities to host the title game twice; the first was Clemson over Alabama in January 2017, in front of 74,512, still the stadium’s record crowd.
Know the Super Bowl history. Raymond James has hosted three Super Bowls (XXXV, XLIII and LV), and in Super Bowl LV the Bucs became the first team to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
Things to Do in Tampa
If you’re planning a weekend around the game, Tampa offers more than just a stadium visit. Ybor City is a historic area known for its Cuban culture, with many bars and restaurants, and is the home of the city’s pirate history and the Gasparilla festival in January. The Tampa Riverwalk runs along the Hillsborough River in downtown, with Armature Works, a lively food hall, at one end. For a full day of fun, consider Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or the Zoo, especially if you have coaster enthusiasts or kids. The Gulf beaches — Clearwater and St. Pete Beach, just 30–45 minutes away — are perfect for a relaxing half-day trip to enjoy the water.
Hotels Near Raymond James Stadium
Your choice in Tampa is simple: stay in Westshore to be a mile from the gates, or stay downtown or in Ybor for the better weekend and rideshare 15 minutes to the game. For big opponents, the closest hotels fill first, so book early.
Westshore, for the shortest trip to the game. The AC Hotel Tampa Airport is the sharpest pick, modern with a weekend pool bar, and the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza is the upscale option beside the mall. On a budget, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa Stadium–Airport on Dale Mabry includes breakfast and is close enough to walk.
Midtown, for bars without a car. The Aloft Tampa Midtown has a rooftop pool and bar, and Midtown’s restaurants and sports bars are right outside. Parking is pricey, so rideshare to the game.
Downtown and Water Street, for the best weekend. You’re on the Riverwalk near the city’s best food. The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, with its Beacon rooftop lounge, is the all-rounder, and The Tampa EDITION is the splurge.
Ybor City, for history and nightlife. Hotel Haya is a boutique stay near the free TECO Line streetcar to downtown. Parking is valet only, and street-side rooms get loud on weekends.
Bars and Restaurants Near Raymond James Stadium
Ray Jay sits in a sea of parking lots, not a bar district, so the Bucs pregame lives in the tailgates, at Bucs Beach and in the sports bars along Dale Mabry. After the final whistle, fans either wait out the traffic nearby or head to SoHo and downtown to keep going.
Before the Game
Riveters Tampa is the busiest pregame stop, a Rosie the Riveter–themed bar about a mile south of the gates that serves fast even when it’s packed. WingHouse Bar & Grill on Columbus Drive is the loud wings-and-beer standby minutes from the lots, and Miller’s Ale House, a little farther west on Columbus, is the reliable walk-in.
After the Game
Walter’s Press Box is the local dive for dodging traffic, with pool tables, darts and a 3 a.m. close every night. In Midtown, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and Brick House Tavern + Tap, with its fire-pit patio, absorb the big postgame crowds. For a real night out, SoHo (South Howard Avenue) is Tampa’s bar strip, anchored by MacDinton’s Irish Pub, and downtown crowds end up at Hattricks.
Where to Eat in Tampa
Columbia Restaurant in Ybor has served Spanish-Cuban food since 1905, making it Florida’s oldest restaurant; get the Cuban and book a flamenco night. Ulele, in a restored Riverwalk pump house, is the Michelin-recognized Florida pick. Bern’s Steak House is the city’s institution, with a legendary wine cellar and an upstairs dessert room. Rocca in Tampa Heights holds a Michelin star and makes mozzarella tableside, so reserve well ahead. Downtown, The Pearl is the lively oyster bar on Water Street.
Why You Should Go
Raymond James is one of the most distinctive buildings in the league, and it’s almost entirely because of the ship — there’s no other NFL venue where scoring sets off cannon fire and a bead-throwing pirate party. The football’s been good lately too, and a December game here is among the most pleasant ticket-and-weather combinations in the sport. Just respect the sun on early-season afternoons, lean into the pregame, and you’ll understand why “Ray Jay” is one of the more fun places in the NFL to spend a Sunday.
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Written by Brad Richards. Founder of Gameday Guides. This guide includes insights from personal visits as well as updated info from team sources, fan forums, and stadium policies. We aim to help you plan with confidence — enjoy your gameday. If you have any tips, if we missed anything or you have a question, don’t hesitate to shoot us an email.