Raymond James Stadium
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Raymond James Stadium is a [[football and soccer stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the University of South Florida football team, and was formerly home to the MLS's Tampa Bay Mutiny. The stadium seats just over 65,000, and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events. The stadium also hosts the annual Outback Bowl on New Year's Day, and the Superbowl of Motorsports monster truck event in mid-January. Super Bowl XXXV was held there on January 28, 2001 between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants. It will host Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.
Raymond James Stadium was built primarily to replace the aging Houlihan's Stadium, formerly located adjacent to the property. It is located on the former site of the now-demolished Al Lopez Field. The stadium officially opened September 20, 1998, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears, 27-15. The final cost of the stadium was $168.5 million, publicly financed. Originally referred to as Tampa Community Stadium, the naming rights were bought for $32.5 million for a thirteen-year deal by St. Petersburg-based Raymond James Financial. On April 27, 2006 an extension was signed to maintain naming rights through 2015.
[edit] Features
One of the most recognizable features of the stadium is a 103-foot, 43-ton steel-and-concrete replica pirate ship, which fires soft-rubber footballs and confetti each time that the Bucs score points. The cannons fire six times for a touchdown, once for an extra point or if the Bucs get into their opponent's red zone, 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.
When it opened, Raymond James Stadium was dubbed the "crown jewel" of the NFL. Buc Vision, a pair of 92-foot wide video screens, are among the largest in the league. Buccaneer Cove features a weathered, two-story fishing village facade, housing stadium concessions and restrooms. All areas of the stadium are ADA compliant.
Temporary bleachers were erected in the endzones for Super Bowl XXXV, and the attendance was a stadium record 71,921.
In 2003, the corner billboards in the stadium were replaced with rotating trilon billboards.
[edit] Historical Notes
On September 3, 1996, the voters of Hillsborough County, Florida approved, by 53% to 47% margin, a thirty-year, half-cent sales tax to build new schools, improve public safety and infrastructure, along with building the new stadium. Voting precincts reported record turnout.
On October 31, 1996, the NFL owners met in New Orleans to select the host site for Super Bowl XXXIII and Super Bowl XXXIV. Pro Player Stadium in the Miami area was selected to host Super Bowl XXXIII. Atlanta, Tempe and Tampa were candidates for Super Bowl XXXIV, with Tampa the favorite, following the successful tax referendum. The Georgia Dome in Atlanta, however, was awarded the game. As a compromise, Tampa was awarded Super Bowl XXXV, which the NFL had not originally planned to select that day.
On May 25, 2005, NFL owners met in Washington, D.C. to select the host site for Super Bowl XLIII. During the balloting, Raymond James Stadium defeated the Georgia Dome (Atlanta), Reliant Stadium (Houston), and Dolphin Stadium (Miami Gardens).
After a nearly two-year legal battle, the Tampa Sports Authority came to a settlement with the manufacturer of the stadium seats. After seven years being open, the red seats of the stadium faded to pink. Reportedly the TSA sued for warranty concerns, stating the seats did not have the UV inhibitor as per the building contract. In 2005, the two parties came to a settlement, and the seats were replaced in the spring of 2006.
Although there are no official nicknames, the stadium is sometimes referred to as "Ray Jay", "The New Sombrero" (a spinoff of the former Bucs' home, as coined by Chris Berman of ESPN), or humorously by local residents as "the CITS", which stands for the Community Investment Tax Stadium. The name coming from the tax referendum that was created to fund its construction.
[edit] Major Football Games
Super Bowls
- Super Bowl XXXV: January 28, 2001 (Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7)
- Super Bowl XLIII: February 1, 2009
NFL Playoff Games
- NFC Divisional Playoff: January 15, 2000 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14, Washington Redskins 13)
- NFC Divisional Playoff: January 12, 2003 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, San Francisco 49ers 6)
- NFC Wild Card Playoff: January 7, 2006 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10, Washington Redskins 17)
[edit] Picture Gallery
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