The Stadium

When the Buccaneers took the field at Raymond James Stadium in 1998, Tampa Bay’s football fans enjoyed watching the game in a modern stadium soon to be recognized as one of the best facilities in the NFL.

The facility, permanent home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of South Florida Bulls and the New Year’s Day Outback Bowl, incorporates groundbreaking innovations and modern stadium design concepts for the finest guest experience. Located an arms throw from the original Tampa Stadium, the venue quickly became a popular choice for concerts and special events.

Raymond James Stadium is publicly-owned and managed by the Tampa Sports Authority. The naming rights are owned by Raymond James Financial, Inc., a financial services firm based in St.Petersburg, Florida.

In a survey conducted by the NFL Players Association in 2006, players rated Raymond James Stadium as the best NFL playing field.

The same company that produces props for Walt Disney World created the pirate ship that is permanently harbored in Buccaneer Cove. The pirate ship comes to life after the Buccaneers score a field goal or touchdown. Its loud cannons fire seven times to signal a touchdown and three to announce a field goal.

The pirate ship is an authentic replica of an earl 1800s pirate ship, arguably one of the most recognizable stadium features in the world. It is 103 feet long with huge 32x50 foot sails.

The sound of a crow cawing is piped through the stadium sound system when the stadium is empty to prevent pigeons from roosting in the rafters.

At Buccaneers games, an animatronic parrot perched on the stern of the pirate ship frequently talks to those passing beneath. Controlled by radio and remote, it often picks fans out of the crowd.

Operated by more than 30 technicians, BucVision allowed Tampa Bay to become the first professional team in any sport to show images through high-definition television (HDTV). The main attraction of BucVision is the sheer size of the two videoboards, each measuring 24 feet high by 92 feet wide, which is significantly larger than conventional NFL scoring systems.