Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL · Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning
Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
No upcoming games currently listed for Raymond James Stadium.
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Raymond James Stadium fills early.
Getting there
Raymond James Stadium sits in west Tampa at 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, about 6 miles northwest of downtown and adjacent to Steinbrenner Field (the Yankees' spring-training home) and the Tampa Sports Complex. There is no rail line to the stadium — HART bus routes serve Dale Mabry but most fans drive in via I-275 to the Dale Mabry exit or from St. Petersburg across the Howard Frankland Bridge. The stadium runs an extensive on-site lot system that opens roughly 3-4 hours before kickoff for Buccaneers and USF games, and reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed at the dedicated entrances. Confirm bag and entry rules on the relevant team's official site (Buccaneers or USF) before going.
The neighborhood
West Tampa around the stadium is a mix of mid-century commercial corridors and the adjacent sports complex — there is no built-up walkable bar-and-restaurant district immediately ringing the stadium, but the Dale Mabry corridor and the nearby Westshore business district have a deep slate of sit-down options within a short ride. Westshore — Tampa's denser corporate-and-mall corridor a short ride south — is the most realistic pre-game eating district. Ybor City, the historic Cuban cigar-factory district east of downtown, is a longer ride east but is the destination Tampa neighborhood for atmosphere and the original Cuban sandwich. Hyde Park's Bayshore Boulevard corridor south of downtown is a quieter sit-down option. Travelers building a wider day can pair the visit with a Bayshore Boulevard walk, an Ybor City evening, or an afternoon at the Tampa Riverwalk and the Florida Aquarium downtown.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable options at the stadium are limited to the on-site tailgate culture and the in-stadium concessions, so most fans tailgate in the lots or eat in Westshore or Ybor before driving over. Popular nearby stops include Columbia Restaurant Ybor City (the 1905-founded Spanish-Cuban institution in Ybor — the original location of Florida's oldest restaurant), Bern's Steak House (the destination steakhouse in Hyde Park a short drive south), and Ducky's Sports Lounge (a Dale Mabry pre-game sports-bar standby a short walk from the stadium). La Segunda Bakery in Ybor is the destination Cuban-sandwich and Cuban-bread bakery (Tampa-style Cuban includes salami — Tampa's authentic version). Cigar City Brewing on Spruce Street near the airport is the destination Tampa craft brewery a short ride from the stadium. Datz Tampa in South Tampa is a brunch-and-comfort-food destination. Ulele on the Tampa Riverwalk is the destination Florida-native sit-down downtown. Pre-game tailgate crowds in the stadium lots build steadily through the morning of Buccaneers home Sundays.
First-timer tips
Plan to arrive at least 2-3 hours before kickoff for Buccaneers games — the on-site lot system opens early, the Dale Mabry inbound traffic stacks up, and the Bucs' tailgate culture is one of the strongest in the NFC. The 'Pirate Ship' in the north end zone — a 103-foot-long pirate vessel that fires cannons after every Buccaneers score — is the building's signature feature and one of the most recognizable end-zone installations in the NFL. The stadium hosted Super Bowl LV (February 2021), which the Buccaneers won as the only NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Mobile-only tickets and clear-bag policy are standard; download tickets in advance. The relevant team publishes current bag policy and gate-open times on their official site.
Best games to catch
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, divisional games against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers are the NFC South draws that consistently spike demand — Bucs-Saints in particular has been a consistent prime-time pick. Visits from the Cowboys, Eagles, and 49ers anchor strong national-broadcast home weekends. The Buccaneers' January playoff dates at the stadium (the team has been a consistent NFC South contender across the past five seasons) are the hardest tickets on the home calendar. For USF Bulls football, the rivalry games against UCF (the War on I-4) and Cincinnati (when scheduled) are the AAC/Big 12 weekends that fill the building most reliably. The stadium also hosts the annual Outback Bowl (now ReliaQuest Bowl) each New Year's Day window and major concerts year-round.
What to know
The stadium opened in September 1998 as Raymond James Stadium under a 13-year naming deal with the St. Petersburg-based financial firm, which has been extended multiple times — the naming relationship is one of the longest-running and most stable in the NFL. The Pirate Ship in the north end zone is a permanent installation that anchors the building's identity and has been the centerpiece of the in-stadium experience since opening. The stadium hosted Super Bowls XXXV (2001), XLIII (2009), and LV (2021), giving it three Super Bowls in roughly two decades. The Buccaneers won the franchise's first Super Bowl (XXXVII, played at the Q in San Diego) under coach Jon Gruden in 2002 and their second (LV, at this stadium) under coach Bruce Arians with Tom Brady at quarterback in February 2021. USF Bulls football has been a co-tenant since the program's founding era. A multi-phase renovation across the past decade has updated the premium clubs, scoreboards, and the upper-deck concourses.
Frequently asked questions
What time do gates open at Raymond James Stadium?
Gates typically open about 90 minutes before kickoff for Buccaneers and USF games, with earlier openings for premium-ticket holders. The on-site parking lots open roughly 3-4 hours before kickoff for tailgating. Check the relevant team's official gates and entry page for the current schedule.
How do I get to Raymond James Stadium without a car?
There is no rail line to the stadium. HART bus routes serve Dale Mabry Highway, but most car-free visitors take rideshare from downtown Tampa or the Westshore hotels. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed at the dedicated entrances.
Where can I park at Raymond James Stadium?
The stadium runs an extensive on-site lot system that opens roughly 3-4 hours before kickoff. Reserving parking in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing. Tailgating is a deep part of the Bucs game-day culture and the lots fill substantially before kickoff.
Is the Pirate Ship at Raymond James Stadium real?
Yes — the 103-foot-long pirate ship installed permanently in the north end zone is the building's signature feature. The ship fires cannons after every Buccaneers score and has been an in-stadium fixture since the venue opened in 1998.
Did the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl at home?
Yes — the Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in February 2021, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs. They are the only NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium and the only team to win one there.
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