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.
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 busy morning: warmup, sling, a heavy-duty serve session on Court 1, then played a set with the coach, winning 6-1 over Dave L and Aaron on Court 2. The only ame we lost was from my overhead, when the coach called “don’t touch” but I still hit it: totally my fault!
