Tampa, Florida
🏈 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although it’s one of the NFL’s older venues, Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium remains a distinctive gem that perfectly encapsulates the culture of Florida’s Sun Coast and provides an exciting environment for football. Opened in 1998 and affectionately known simply as “Ray Jay,” the stadium fully leans into the Buccaneer theme to create a gameday experience unlike any other, one that feels uniquely local.

Ray Jay controversially replaced Tampa Stadium, located directly adjacent to its successor and originally constructed in the hopes of attracting a pro football team, which was ultimately awarded to the city in 1974. Nicknamed The Big Sombrero, the structure was built in 1967 – but by its thirtieth birthday, it was deemed unfit for a budding NFL franchise.

The Bucs’ current home is a splendid facility that will certainly have much greater longevity. Upgrades throughout its existence have helped extend its lifespan significantly, including renovations in 2016 that saw the installation of gigantic new videoboards, among other things. The Krewe’s Nest, second-tier seating directly behind the south end zone, also debuted in 2022 and brought the venue’s current capacity to just a hair below 70,000.

The stadium’s most eye-catching element is undoubtedly the replica pirate ship that’s perched in the north end zone. It boasts live cannons that are fired repeatedly during games: once for each player taking the field during introductions, once for every point scored by the Bucs, once when the team enters the red zone, and once after every hometown win. The blasts are often accompanied by flag waving and pirate-themed music, which sometimes prompts fans on board the ship to throw beads and other trinkets down into the seats in a Gasparilla-style fit of excitement.

Behind the ship is Buccaneer Cove, a mock seaside village that features a wide assortment of concessions. Outposts of locally-based eateries like PDQ and Cigar City Brewing are present, along with foodstuffs like Little Caesars and the Aussie Grill by Outback Steakhouse. The coastal theme is also present at Bucs Beach in the south plaza, which consists of Tiki huts and small sandboxes that make for a fun pre-game hangout spot.

On the field, the Buccaneers have built a strong culture thanks to on-and-off success, particularly in recent years. Beginning play in 1976, the team won three division titles in the NFC Central before moving to the NFC South in 2002. Immediately after the jump, the Bucs would win their first Super Bowl, a decisive victory over the Oakland Raiders. After a nearly twenty-season lull in which they only won two division crowns, the arrival of Tom Brady in 2020 saw the team regain relevancy in the league. In Brady’s first of his three seasons with Tampa Bay, he led them to another Super Bowl win, becoming the first franchise to ever hoist the trophy on their home turf. In the years that followed, the Bucs would go on to claim three straight NFC South championships. And with new arrivals like quarterback Baker Mayfield, there’s no sign of things slowing down anytime soon for football in Tampa Bay.