RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM

Raymond James Stadium, located at 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33607, was built in 1998. The stadium has been the home of the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers since its opening and has also hosted the University of South Florida Bulls college football team and the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer. Rayomd James Stadium also hosts the Outback Bowl every year during the college bowl season. Raymond James Stadium is named after Raymond James Financial, who paid $32.5 million to purchase the naming rights to the stadium for 13 years in June 1998.On April 27, 2006 an extension was signed to maintain naming rights through 2015.

The stadium is owned by the Tampa Sports Authority and cost $168.5 million to construct. The money for the stadium was raised publicly thru a one-half percent sales tax increase. The playing surface for the field is a Bermuda grass surface and there are 60 restroom facilities available for use.

Raymond James is conveniently located a tenth of a mile from the nearest airport so fans from out of town have no need to worry about a lengthy cab ride to or from the airport and the game. Before the construction of Raymond James Stadium, the attendance at Buccaneers games was pretty dreadful, but after the stadium was completed, almost every game since the beginning of the 1998 season has become a sure sell out. The stadium can hold 65,647 people and also features almost 200 luxury suites and more than 12,000 club level seats, both ranking near the top compared with other stadiums across the country. Located beyond the north end zone at Raymond James Stadium is Buccaneer Cove, an area that is modeled after a 19th century Pirate village. Buccaneer Cove’s main attraction is a 103 foot-long replica Pirate ship that cost $3 million to purchase and move into the stadium. which fires soft-rubber footballs and confetti each time that the Bucs score points or enter the other team's red zone. The cannon fire six times for a touchdown, once for an extra point, twice for a safety or two point conversion, and three times for a field goal. In addition, when the Buccaneers enter their opponent's red zone, stadium hosts hoist team flags around the perimeter of the upper deck. During various times throughout the game, the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" is played on the stadium public address system, which signals patrons onboard the ship to throw beads, t–shirts, and other free prizes to the people below. The segement is also known as a "Mini Gasparilla" to most fans. There’s an animated parrot who sits on the stern of the pirate ship. Controlled by radio and remote control, the parrot picks fans out of the crowd and talks to those passing by.

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