Welcome to ‘Champa’ Bay : 5 Must-See Sports Events
Brand new residents who just moved to Champa Bay will be in good company. The area is home to excellent Cuban sandwiches, family-friendly beaches and 361 days of sunshine every year.
If that is not enough to excite them –– we won’t pass judgement, but…really? Tampa Bay is a proud sports town, and there is plenty to go around for everybody, no matter what they are into.
Are they a diehard fan with the foam finger and face paint to prove it? Do they sway more towards America’s favorite pastime, with peanuts and a glove to catch a rogue foul?
Here are five of the best sports events in Tampa.
Touchdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium
There is nothing better than seeing the home team play on their own turf, right? Of course, fans are still riding on the high from the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win Feb. 7 –– and how could they not? The Bucs walked onto that field as the underdogs and came out as champions. Now, they are strutting into the 2021-22 season with all 22 starters resigned from their Super Bowl win, so this season is practically guaranteed to be another scorcher.
The preseason starts Aug. 14 at Raymond James Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Buccaneers kick off the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys at home Sept. 9.
Aside from the excitement of a major game, fans love going to Raymond James Stadium. It has been called the crown jewel of NFL stadiums, and for good reason. There are 12,000 club seats and 195 suites to choose from, and behind the north end zone, the infamous Buccaneers Cove is complete with a 103-foot-long pirate ship replica. It is common for fans to dress up in their Captain Jack best for a game. For those who do not have any Bucs gear yet, there are plenty of vendors and team shops in the two-story fishing village within the cove.
With any great football game, excellent food is a must, and every palate will be satiated at Raymond James Stadium. From a veggie Cuban sandwich, to a Tampa roll, all the way to pizza box nachos, it will not be a problem finding something that floats everybody’s pirate boat.
Now, the bad but not unexpected news: The season is already sold out. However, the team has started a new Season Pass Priority Waitlist, which will allow fans to purchase a premium spot to be first in line to purchase tickets as they become available.
“This is a momentous achievement for the organization and our fans,” said Buccaneers Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford. “We have worked closely with the Tampa Sports Authority to welcome back the best fans in the NFL, and we are excited to play in a completely full Raymond James Stadium this upcoming season. To have the entire season sold out before we even reach training camp is a testament to our passionate and loyal fan base.”
For more information on how to get on the waitlist, visit buccaneers.com.
Get chilly with the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena
Even though it is hot, hot, hot on the west side of the Sunshine State, local fans still like to cool down at the rink with the Back-to-Back Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning.
Of course, unlike football season, the NHL season has wrapped for the year…on quite a high note. The Tampa Bay Lightning have officially won the Stanley Cup for two years in a row. However, it is never too early to look at next season.
A Tampa Bay Lightning game is something locals must experience. To say that the atmosphere is electrifying is an understatement, and there really is not a bad seat in the house. The arena’s cool lightning effect, generated by Tesla coils above the arena, is a truly unique sensory experience. It is like sitting below a thunderstorm indoors, and it is in an incredible addition for fans.
The team has also launched its Backing the Bay program, which donates $50,000 in grants to minority-owned businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch for announcements about the Lightning’s annual Bolts Family Carnival, where attendees can interact with players and play carnival games, with all proceeds going to charity. The Tampa Bay Lightning also hosts the free Fan Fest at the arena every September.
Ready to hit the ice? Visit nhl.com/lightning.
Play ball with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field
For those who are new to the area, a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field is a must-see. The New York Times said the Rays “don’t look like contenders, but they play like stars.” While the team is the only professional one in the area not to have brought home their league’s most prestigious title of World Series champions, they have made their home city proud by snagging the American League Pennant and the East Division Titles in 2020.
At Tropicana Field, popularly known as The Trop, even the cheap seats will give fans an enjoyable view of the game. The domed stadium eliminates the need to sit outside and bake in the Florida sun for nine innings.
The Trop offers much more than just baseball and hot dogs, too. Make sure to check out the ray tank behind the right center field fence. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsors the 10,000-gallon touch-tank full of stingrays, which recently reopened.
“After an exhilarating 2020 season and run to the World Series with fans cheering us on from afar, we were thrilled to welcome people back to the ballpark in 2021,” said Rays President Brian Auld. “Baseball is a unifier, and with more than a year of loss, isolation and uncertainty behind us all, it’s a great gift to be able to bring people together at games at Tropicana Field.”
Of course, food is always an important part of any baseball game. Fans can treat themselves to a cold treat like the Cracker Jack-rimmed milkshake –– booze can be added for those of drinking age –– and sushi bowls, shrimp and calamari in a waffle cone, all of which can be ordered on the MLB Ballpark app so there is no need to stand in line and miss the action.
Grab a mitt and get ready to catch a homer with the Rays. To purchase tickets, visit mlb.com/rays.
Get your soccer on with the Tampa Bay Rowdies
Major league sporting events are not everybody’s cup of tea. A lot of sports lovers are more inclined to go to a minor league event to avoid the crowds and high prices of larger, more rowdy events.
The Rowdies have been part of the USL Championship since 2017 and play at the Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. Professional soccer, albeit not for lack of trying, has never caught on in the United States like it has overseas. However, the fan base is still strong, and a Rowdies game is a great –– and affordable –– way to spend a summer night.
Tickets start between $10 and $15, with sideline seats ranging from $20-$50, and club seats escalate in price up to $200. For fans who are looking for a smaller event with hundreds, and not thousands of other spectators, a Rowdies game is the perfect night out.
The grandstand faces southeast, which not only provides a great view of the game, but a gorgeous look at the St. Pete harbor. The stadium underwent a huge renovation in 2015, replacing all of the grandstand seats and refreshing fan areas. Speaking of refreshing, do not worry about the heat –– the stadium is located right on the water, which gives off a cool, ocean breeze. Fireworks follow every single home game.
Just like the Rays, the Rowdies are also part of Backing the Bay and hold a Split the Pot charity raffle at every home game. The team also holds numerous youth soccer clinics throughout the year for local kids.
An outing to a Rowdies game is guaranteed to be low-dough, too.
“The best thing about the food at Al Lang Stadium is the affordability,” said Chris Green at stadiumjourney.com.
Beers are priced from $6 to $9, with burgers and hot dogs under $6. Tickets to a game and feeding a family of four comes in under $100, which is pretty amazing, compared to most sporting venues. There is also a kid’s zone that features cotton candy and an ice cream concession stand.
While soccer the sport may not be as mainstream as others, the events are smaller, more affordable and, overall, more relaxed. Snag tickets to a Tampa Bay Rowdies game at rowdiessoccer.com.
Take to the Minors with the Tampa Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field
One of the best things about minor league baseball games, aside from saving a few bucks, is the chance to see the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow play ball. Not only that, but minor league games are designed with families in mind.
The Tampa Tarpons –– a tarpon is big ole’ gamefish, by the way –– were established back in 1994 as the Tampa Yankees. The team is a Low-A affiliate of the New York Yankees and was renamed in 2018. They are pretty darn good, too. Since their inception, the Tarpons won five Florida State League championship titles and have been the home team to future champions, such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Needless to say, their record speaks for itself.
The Tarpons play at George M. Steinbrenner field, also the spring training home for the Yankees, and its reputation precedes itself. Reviews at tripadvisor.com call it a “truly world-class organization” with “no bad seats in the house.” The stadium itself is designed with elements of the old and new Yankee stadiums in mind.
For fans with baseball-playing kids, the Tarpons offer the Baseball Buddies program, as well as summer camps for youth players. The team also has special events including Father’s Day brunch and Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark night when, for just an extra $2, guests can bring a furry friend to a game on Tuesday nights throughout the summer.
To score tickets to an upcoming Tarpons game, visit milb.com/tampa and check out the special events.
Written by Jen Clark
