Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium — plus everything to eat, drink, and do in Tampa for a perfect sports weekend.
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is one of the NFL's more distinctive venues — the 75,000-seat open-air stadium features a full-sized pirate ship in the end zone that fires cannons on every Bucs score. Tampa is one of the most active NFL cities, with the Lightning (Stanley Cup champions) 5 miles away downtown and Ybor City — the former Cuban cigar capital — a distinctive and fascinating neighborhood.
Use GamePlan to add a Lightning game at Amalie Arena (5 miles downtown) to your Buccaneers weekend. Friday Lightning + Sunday Bucs is one of the better two-sport Tampa weekends.
Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998 and features the HMS Buccaneers pirate ship in Buccaneer Cove — a 43-foot-long replica ship that fires real cannons when the Bucs score. The open-air venue in Tampa's September heat can be punishing, but the atmosphere created by one of the NFL's most passionate fan bases is genuine.
You cannot leave Tampa without eating these.
The finest boutique hotel in Tampa, named for its food and beverage focus. An exceptional restaurant and culinary-driven experience throughout.
Best for: Food-focused travelers, couplesOn the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa, walking distance to the Lightning's Amalie Arena and the Tampa Riverwalk.
Best for: Groups, Lightning-focused tripsTechnically a restaurant and bookshop, but worth mentioning as the defining aesthetic experience of contemporary Tampa. Breakfast here before a game is the right choice.
Best for: Aesthetic experience, couplesSince 1905, the oldest restaurant in Florida. The 1905 Salad prepared tableside, the sangria, and the Cuban sandwich are the trinity. The flamenco show on weekends is magnificent.
Must order: Cuban sandwich, 1905 Salad, sangriaTampa's most respected craft brewery, producing consistent, interesting beers in a welcoming taproom near the Channelside entertainment district.
Must order: Unholy Trippel, whatever seasonal is availableA beloved Ybor City bar that has survived every reinvention of the neighborhood. Live music, cold beer, and the authentic Ybor spirit.
Must order: Local draft beer, deviled crab if availableOne of the most singular restaurant experiences in America. The largest private wine cellar in the world, an extraordinary dry-aged beef program, and desserts served in private booths upstairs. Make a reservation weeks ahead.
Order: Dry-aged beef, sommelier will guide the wine, dessert room for the finaleTampa's most celebrated farm-to-table restaurant. Chef Ferrell Alvarez's seasonal cooking is the most consistently excellent in the city.
Order: Whatever the season has provided — trust the kitchenThe finest coffee in Ybor City, in a historic building that reflects the neighborhood's Cuban heritage.
Order: Cafe con leche, pastelito de guayabaThe pirate ship fires real cannons on every Bucs score. It is spectacular and worth engineering a view of. Sections 101–103 are closest.
Amalie Arena is downtown Tampa, 5 miles from Raymond James. A Lightning Friday + Buccaneers Sunday is one of the better two-sport Tampa weekends.
Tampa's cigar city district is the most culturally distinctive neighborhood in Florida. Walk it on Saturday afternoon, eat at Columbia Restaurant, and explore the bars at night.
September in Tampa is brutally hot and humid — 90°F and 90% humidity. Raymond James is open-air. Hydrate aggressively and dress in breathable fabric.
Tampa is a large market with the Buccaneers in a high-profile era. Tickets are available but priced accordingly — buy early.
Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are 30–45 minutes from downtown Tampa. Saturday beach day + Sunday Bucs game is the Florida sports weekend template.
Use GamePlan to find the exact dates when your favorite teams all play in the same window — then book everything in one trip.
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