NFL
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_logo.svg/150px-Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_logo.svg.png
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1x Champion:
2002




RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM
Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
capacity: 65657
opened: September 20, 1998

http://www.sptimes.com/News/webspecials/superbowl2001/photos/staduim2.jpg

Raymond James Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of South Florida Bulls football and the New Year’s Day Outback Bowl, as well as countless concerts and special events every year. It was also the host of Super Bowl XXXV on January 28, 2001.

http://www.vegardengen.net/tampa-files/Raymond%20James%20Stadium.JPG
http://www.rjf.biz/stadium/images/pics3.jpg
http://www.visittampabay.com/images/shell/headers/pcd_raymondjamesstadium.jpg
http://www.lesitedeschampions.ca/stade_buccaneers_int.jpg

The Pirate Ship:
http://www.genesiswave.com/images/Events/BuckShip01.jpg
http://www.users.ties2.net/~dkram/2001/Tampa/Raymond_James_Ship.jpg
http://www.genesiswave.com/images/Events/BuckShip02.jpg

That's crazy!! A pirate ship as part of a stadium... only in America! Is it a permanant feature?

That's crazy!! A pirate ship as part of a stadium... only in America! Is it a permanant feature?
Yes it's a permanent feature of the stadium. However under certain circumstances it can be temporarily moved to add thousands of more seats for special events. This has never been done before though, and it probably won't for a while. They may do it for the 2009 Super Bowl, which is being held here in Tampa, but nobody knows for sure...

Also, the ship's cannons fire (blanks) after every point scored by the Buccaneers. It really rallies the crowd and gets everyone pumped up. It's a truly unique feature, and makes the "RayJay" one of the most unique places to watch a game of American Football.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/011500/bucsphotos/spts-cannons-sm.jpg

Also, it's the only 'proper' stadium to regularly host showjumping (American Invitational, 1st week of April)

http://equisearch.com/equiwire_news/nancy_jaffer/Amerinv-stadium-view-040106.jpg

Sorry I couldn't find a better picture!

Also, it's the only 'proper' stadium to regularly host showjumping (American Invitational, 1st week of April)

http://equisearch.com/equiwire_news/nancy_jaffer/Amerinv-stadium-view-040106.jpg

Sorry I couldn't find a better picture!

Cue RVN diving joke. ;)

What the hell is showjumping???

What the hell is showjumping???
equestrian... It's when horses jump over various barriers. If I'm not mistaken it's kind of an obstacle course for a horse and rider.

I've never watched it, and I personally never knew that fact. I've lived here all my life, and I'm still learning new things about my city :)

I remember when this stadium opened and the superbowl in 2001 ive never been inside of it though.

Nothing special just another box built NFL stadium.

The pic taken from above looks cool, the pics taken at fieldlevel make it look rather dull though.

Cue RVN diving joke. ;)

Very Good ;) Just as well for you he had colic on Monday!

Key (for anyone who's wondering esp. confused Americans):

RVN = Ruud van Nistelrooy
relevance = commonly facially compared to a horse
plus = I am a United fan

colic = incapacitating sickness, prevalent in horses
Monday = United v Spurs
relevance = MoreOrLess is a Spurs fan (if I remember rightly)
plus = van Nistelrooy had a quiet/poor game

NB = we still won 2-1!

Apologies for drifting off thread....or am I?

(tenuous) Link = The Glazer family... :(

Nothing special just another box built NFL stadium.
I don't quite know what you're expecting. This stadium was built to maximize side views, while trying to make use of the endzone areas for fan amenities.

When Raymond James opened in 1998 it was praised as "the crown jewel of all NFL stadiums" and is still considered among the best in the nation by several national media sources.

It's not "just another box"... maybe you could call me a "homer" or whatever, but I just love this place

Palace fan sadly.

Here are a few more pics I found online
lower deck, off center
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2002/tbvs49_04.jpg

A few hours before the Super Bowl in 2001:
http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/nfc/raymond103.jpg

From the scoreboard (empty, blank stadium)
http://www.meyersound.com/markets/sportsvenues/elements/tampa.jpg

Pregame ceremonies
http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/nfc/raymond107.jpg

palms
http://www.raymondjames.com/stadium/images/pics4.jpg

Bucs getting scored on :bash:
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2003/bucsvsfalcons02.jpg

After a night game
http://graphics.jsonline.com/packer/image/120798/stad1207.jpg

Opening Day at Raymond James
http://home1.gte.net/bogota/B-52.jpg

from the endzone looking across
http://www.musco.com/newsev/images/sbxxxv-endzone.jpg

fans in the upper deck
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2003-01/6400596.jpg

fans
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2002/tbvs49_02.jpg
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2002/tbvs49_01.jpg

more pics
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2002/tbvs49_05.jpg
http://www.chuskers.com/pictures/buccaneers2002/tbvs49_06.jpg

Palace fan sadly.
you're right... you could say I'm a little obsessed with the place :)

Raymond James Stadium is to host Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.

This is where Tampa loses to Carolina once a year.

this stadium will look awesome all dressed up for the super bowl

There's a lot of room to expand to capacity.
I love it!!!!!!

where will the put the ship during the Super Bowl

where will the put the ship during the Super Bowl

Up Glazer's ass hopefully.

It definitely is a function over form stadium. But of course most of these stadiums are funded by public money and can't afford to be extravagant. This stadium was built for only $168,000,000. That's less than some new NHL Arenas, and an amazing value. They did a great job on such a shoestring budget.

It's actually one of my favored stadiums in America. While most stadiums are good for watching either football or soccer this one pulls off both well.

It has it's drawbacks, but it's purpose is to host sports and that's what it does.

What's with all the supporters holding team flags? Looks European, therefore looks cool.

Raymond James Stadium's seating capacity can be expanded to 75,000. When the stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, it held only 71,921. How can the stadium be expanded from 65,000 to 75,000?

I think they put temporary stands at the ends.

Question is asked on Every Football Stadium thread and the same answer is always given. Why does this happen so much?

I think they put temporary stands at the ends.

At one or at both endzone stands?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3177722212_1b4bd55a2d_b.jpg

BTW, please no Superbowl talk unless its about the stadium etc.

NFL
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/98/TampaBayBuccaneers.png/100px-TampaBayBuccaneers.png
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1x Champion:
2002




RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM
Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
capacity: 65657
opened: September 20, 1998

The name of the city is Tampa, not "Tampa Bay". Tampa Bay is a body of water.

I assume they'll erect a metal tier where the pirate ship is.

The name of the city is Tampa, not "Tampa Bay". Tampa Bay is a body of water.

He never said that was the name of the city, he said that thats the name of the team "Tampa Bay Buccaneers" not "Tampa Buccaneers".

Besides the metropolitan area consisting of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater is known as Tampa Bay, that's way all of the professional teams from that area carry the name "Tampa Bay" as a way to represent the whole area.

He never said that was the name of the city, he said that thats the name of the team "Tampa Bay Buccaneers" not "Tampa Buccaneers".

Yes, he did. He wrote : RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM / Tampa Bay / Florida / USA.
If we go by this address, the stadium is in the middle of the water.

most the USA thinks that city is called Tamp Bay. O well. I watch enough football to know its just Tampa. How are Super Bowl Preparations coming here at this stadium?

most the USA thinks that city is called Tamp Bay. O well. I watch enough football to know its just Tampa.

And I watch enough baseball to know the Devil Rays play in St. Pete. :)

And the Detroit Pistons play in Auburn Hills! Dallas Cowboys in Irving...no, scratch that, Arlington now, and and New York Football teams in New Jersey!!!

Why are people trying to argue that it should be listed as being in Tampa Bay? Its in Tampa, it should be listed as being in Tampa. End of story, this cant be argued.

And the Detroit Pistons play in Auburn Hills! Dallas Cowboys in Irving...no, scratch that, Arlington now, and and New York Football teams in New Jersey!!!
Don't forget Boston College (Chestnut Hill)!

At one or at both endzone stands?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3177722212_1b4bd55a2d_b.jpg

BTW, please no Superbowl talk unless its about the stadium etc.

Both, except for the Pirate ship.

The Pirate Ship can be taken down (has been taken down) and put in storage.