When the Buccaneers took the field at Raymond James Stadium in 1998, Tampa Bay’s football fans enjoyed watching the game in a modern stadium soon to be recognized as one of the best facilities in the NFL. The facility, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of South Florida Bulls and the New Year’s Day Outback Bowl, incorporates groundbreaking innovations and modern stadium design concepts for the finest guest experience. Located an arms throw from the original Tampa Stadium, the newly opened venue quickly became a popular choice for concerts and special events.
Members of the NFL Players Association have consistently rated Raymond James Stadium’s field as the best in the league and league insiders refer to the stadium as the “crown jewel” of the NFL. Raymond James Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXV on January 28, 2001, in which the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34 to 7, and will host Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.
Raymond James Stadium is publically owned and managed by the Tampa Sports Authority. The naming rights are owned by Raymond James Financial, Inc., a financial services firm based in St.Petersburg, Florida.
Did You Know?
In the very first regular season home game ever played at Raymond James Stadium (September 20, 1998), the Bucs won a dramatic victory against the Chicago Bears with a 27-point rally to defeat the Bears 27 to 15.
In a survey conducted by the NFL Players Association in 2006, players rated Raymond James Stadium as the best NFL playing field.
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The same company that produces props for Walt Disney World created the mighty pirate ship that is permanently harbored in Buccaneer Cove. The pirate ship comes to life after the Buccaneers score a field goal or touchdown. Its loud cannons fire seven times to signal a touchdown and three to announce a field goal.
The pirate ship is an authentic replica of an early 1800s pirate ship, arguably one of the most recognizable stadium features in the world. It is 103 feet long with huge 32x50 foot sails.
- Ship Length 103’
- Ship Weight 43 tons
- Ship Height 78’
- Bow Detail 9’x7’
- Ship Width 32’
- Swords 16’ each
The ship was constructed over a two-month period using, among others, the following materials:
- 5.5 tons of concrete
- 14 tons of steel
- 700 yards of sails
- 1 mile of rigging
- 300 feet of rope
- 60 gallons of paint
- 64,000 linear feet of wood trim
The sound of a crow cawing is piped through the stadium sound system when the stadium is empty to prevent pigeons from roosting in the rafters.
At Buccaneers games, an animatronic parrot perched on the stern of the pirate ship frequently talks to those passing beneath. Controlled by radio and remote, it often picks fans out of the crowd.
Raymond James Stadium has a program called Tag-A-Kid which gives parents the option of placing wristbands on their children so that if they become lost, stadium staff can return them safely to their seats.
Operated by more than 30 technicians at Raymond James Stadium, BucVision allowed Tampa Bay to become the first professional team in any sport to show images through high-definition television (HDTV). The main attraction of BucVision is the sheer size of the two videoboards, each measuring 24 feet high by 92 feet wide, which is significantly larger than conventional NFL scoring systems.
Raymond James Stadium is named after a diversified financial services firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, Raymond James Financial, Inc.
