tennis, life and a few things in between

The Parking Lot #13 @ Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL

Without knowing the parking situation, we chose Lot #13 and planned to tailgate.

The last NFL tailgate I attended, I made a short video about it, which unexpectedly made into the final round of a film festival.

~ the video

• from the lot to the stadium
• going to the stadium
• the Game
• the last 3 seconds
• after the game
• rain, water puddles in parking lots

The parking lots around Raymond James Stadium are fragmented and spread out. We ended up in Lot #13, which is fairly far from the stadium. It has portable toilets and costs $41, while the more expensive lots go for $95.40. Lot numbers are not clearly marked. As soon as we turned onto N. Himes Avenue, handmade “$20 Parking” signs began popping up, put out by individuals—likely nearby homeowners or condo owners.

When we first arrived, dust rose every time a car drove by. Not long after, rain moved in, turning the ground muddy and leaving puddles in some areas. A few tailgaters were scattered nearby.

4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy,
Tampa, FL 33607

… more pix & videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Built on part of the former Drew Field, the stadium opened in 1998, seats 69,218, and serves as the home field of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls.

It was my second time attending a NFL game, which means I’m still a novice. I didn’t know umbrellas aren’t allowed inside.

“You’ll block the people behind you,” the gate agent said as she confiscated mine. Could she return it to me in case the rain continued? Not a chance.

• $20 parking
• from the lot to the stadium
• going to the stadium
• the Game
• the last 3 seconds
• after the game
• rain, water puddles in parking lots

What do they do with all those umbrellas? If we want to leave early, we have to walk out in the rain—so where do they keep our umbrellas? I wish they would at least put them in a large bin by the entrance so people could reclaim them afterward.

Second, if umbrellas aren’t allowed, the open areas should at least be covered during inclement weather. They aren’t, which is disappointing. The rain is soaking and unrelenting. Most seats in the stadium are uncovered, yet I’d guess about 90% are still occupied. The other 10% of fans are milling around the concourses. Reportedly, garbage bags have become highly sought after now that ponchos are sold out. Only a handful of fans are leaving. We can’t—because we no longer have umbrellas.

#12 is the most popular jersey—perhaps because Tom Brady (1977-) was the only player I knew on the team. #6, Baker Mayfield (1995–), the current quarterback, is also widely seen.

By the entrance, there is a small area filled with white sand. There are two gates. Although you can reach the other side once inside, it’s better to enter through the correct gate. Unfortunately, the gate attendants don’t mention this; they simply scan your ticket and let you in.

A greasy smell permeates the stadium, which is unpleasant. Bathrooms are plentiful, with at most a one-minute wait. At one point, I entered through what turned out to be an exit—either it wasn’t labeled, or I didn’t notice. When I realized my mistake and went to the other side to queue properly, a young attendant was kind: she smiled (approvingly, I hope) and, a moment later, held the door open for me.

The ushers are all very friendly and helpful—thank you all. You made a rainy, miserable day memorable.

The parking lots are fragmented and scattered around Raymond James Stadium. We were assigned Lot #13, which is quite far from the stadium and equipped with portable toilets, at a cost of $41. The closer, more convenient lots cost as much as $95.

Lot numbers are not clearly marked. As soon as we turned onto N. Himes Avenue, handmade “$20 Parking” signs began popping up, likely put up by nearby homeowners or condo residents.

Drew Field. A cool swat jeep: is this heavier vehicle armored?

A white Mercedes-Benz was parked squarely on the pedestrian pathway outside the lot. It was there when we arrived for the game—and still there when we left.

A pretty exciting game: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (est. 1974) defeated the Carolina Panthers 16–14 at home at Raymond James Stadium, on a rainy day that stretched from afternoon into evening.

…one pic on Reddit.

I’m mad about missing the National Anthem: I love the melody and the atmosphere. Also missed the first half because of the rain—and we couldn’t leave because the gate staff confiscated our umbrellas. How unprepared I was. The stadium is 95% packed.

Thanks to the rain lord for showing mercy: it stopped during the second half, only to start again shortly before the game ended.

With three seconds remaining on the clock, the ball was turned over to the Panthers, but they failed to score.

The last NFL game I attended was Giants def Atlanta Falcons 24-2, and the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl in 2012. The Bucs now need the Falcons to lose tomorrow to the Saints—a rather meaningless game for both teams, but Falcons is the fave … p.s. unfortunately, Falcons defeat New Orleans Saints: 19-17.

Oh well. For Bucs, a win is a win, worth celebrating. Tomorrow is another day.

• from the lot to the stadium
• going to the stadium
• the Game
• the last 3 seconds
• after the game
• rain, water puddles in parking lots

The Selmon Expressway was named in honor of former Buccaneer Lee Roy Selmon (1954–2011), who played defensive end for the team from 1976 to 1984, his entire nine-season NFL career.

QB Tom Brady (1977– ) is another famous Buccaneer. He joined the team at the end of his long and illustrious career, winning seven Super Bowl rings—six with the New England Patriots (2000–2019) and the seventh with the Buccaneers, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 right here on February 7, 2021.

After briefly retiring, Brady returned to play one more season with the Buccaneers in 2022, then retired for good in early 2023. His three seasons in Tampa (2020–2022) earned him many fans; even now, many people sport #12, the same number he wore in New England, after wide receiver Chris Godwin (1996– ) gave it to him out of respect.

https://youtu.be/Iz41Fk8PN_Y