Upcoming Tampa Bay Buccaneers dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Buccaneers in brief: from 0–14 to two Super Bowl wins
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their home games at Raymond James Stadium, an open-air stadium on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, from September into early January. The franchise was established on April 24, 1974, and began play in 1976 as an expansion team alongside Seattle. The start was famously rough: the Bucs went 0–14 in their first season and lost 26 straight games across their first two years.
The turnaround came later and lasted. Tampa Bay has won two Super Bowls, beating the Oakland Raiders 48–21 in Super Bowl XXXVII after the 2002 season and the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 in Super Bowl LV, which made the Bucs the first team to play in and win a Super Bowl in their home stadium. The franchise has ten division titles through the 2024 season, including four straight NFC South crowns from 2021 to 2024. The Glazer family has owned the team since 1995.
- Division: the NFC South, with Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans.
- Signature feature: a 103-foot pirate ship in the north end zone whose cannons fire when the Bucs score.
- Rivals: the division opponents, plus a long history with Green Bay from the old NFC Central.
Where to sit at Raymond James Stadium, and how to find shade
Raymond James Stadium seats 69,218 for a standard game and can expand to about 75,000 with temporary seating. Sections are numbered in the 100s (the lower bowl), 200s (the club and suite tier) and 300s (the upper deck). Lower-level sections run roughly 30 rows deep.
The shade question
In Tampa, shade is the deciding factor for September and October games. Seating guides place the Buccaneers sideline in sections 106–115, and the sun sets behind that side, so it falls into shade first as an afternoon game goes on. The opposite sideline faces the sun. The upper deck has no shade or cover anywhere, so a higher row there buys a lower price but no relief from the heat.
Best seats
- Bucs sideline, sections 106–115: the most sought-after seats in the building, with the home bench in front and afternoon shade behind.
- 200-level club seats: a raised sideline view with indoor club space, the most comfortable way to see a hot early-season game.
- 300-level sideline: the value pick for seeing the whole field, as long as you prepare for full sun.
- North end zone, near the ship: sections near Buccaneers Cove (the fishing-village facade with concessions beneath the ship) put you closest to the cannons and the pregame atmosphere.
Seats to think twice about
Front rows on the sideline lose the far side of the field behind standing players. Upper-deck seats on the sun side at a 1 p.m. kickoff in September are the least comfortable tickets in the stadium.
The schedule and the games that sell first
The NFL season has a short August preseason, a 17-game regular season from September into early January, and the playoffs from mid-January. The Bucs play eight or nine home games a year.
- Division games: New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina are short trips for visiting fans, and these games decide the NFC South.
- Opponents with national followings: teams whose fans travel in numbers push demand up across the bowl.
- Prime-time games: night kickoffs mean cooler weather and a bigger stage, and they usually draw more demand than an early afternoon game.
- December and January games: milder weather and playoff stakes make these the most comfortable and often most competitive dates.
- Preseason games: the lowest-demand dates.
Resale prices tend to move most in the final week, when the standings and the forecast are clear. In September, the heat can push more inventory onto the market for early kickoffs, while shaded sideline sections hold their value.
Gameday: no bags, cashless lots and tailgating rules
Raymond James Stadium is unusual in the NFL for its no-bag policy. As of the 2026 season, guests may bring only one clutch purse no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches, and clear bags are not a substitute. Storage lockers have been available for rent on Tom McEwen Boulevard. Re-entry is not permitted except in a medical emergency, and the stadium is smoke and tobacco free, including e-cigarettes.
The stadium has about 10,000 on-site parking spaces and about 15,000 off-site. All lots are cashless, and a parking pass is not valid for re-entry to the lot. Tailgating is allowed in the lots under clear rules: stay within your 10-by-24-foot space, set up behind your own vehicle, keep tents and coolers out of walkways, keep amplified sound low, and stop at kickoff.
For major events, the main rideshare pickup is in the Steinbrenner Field lot across Dale Mabry Highway. Concession stands are cashless. Check the stadium's A-to-Z guide for current rules before you go.
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Following the Bucs on the road
The NFC South keeps road trips within reach: Atlanta and Charlotte are short flights, and New Orleans is a natural weekend trip. In opponents' stadiums, upper-deck and end zone sections are where visiting fans usually gather. Buy early for road games against teams with consistent sellouts, since visitor-friendly seats thin out first.
Two stadiums and two championships
The Bucs played at Tampa Stadium, known as "the Big Sombrero," from 1976 to 1997. Raymond James Stadium opened next door on September 20, 1998, and has since hosted three Super Bowls: XXXV in 2001, XLIII in 2009 and LV in 2021. It also hosts the South Florida Bulls, the ReliaQuest Bowl and the Gasparilla Bowl, and its attendance record of 74,512 came at the 2017 College Football Playoff national championship.
- 1976: the expansion season, spent in the AFC West before a move to the NFC Central in 1977.
- 1979, 1981 and 1999: NFC Central division titles.
- 2002 season: a defense-first team won Super Bowl XXXVII.
- 2020 season: the Bucs won Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium, the first home-stadium Super Bowl win.
Hugh Culverhouse owned the team from its founding until 1994, and Malcolm Glazer bought it in 1995. The family still owns the franchise.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play?
The Bucs play at Raymond James Stadium on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, their home since 1998. Before that, they played at Tampa Stadium.
Which side of Raymond James Stadium is in the shade?
The Buccaneers sideline, around sections 106 to 115, gets shade first in the afternoon because the sun sets behind it. The upper deck has no shade or cover.
Can I bring a bag to a Buccaneers game?
As of the 2026 season, Raymond James Stadium has a no-bag policy that allows only one clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check the stadium's current policy before you go.
How many Super Bowls have the Buccaneers won?
Two. They won Super Bowl XXXVII after the 2002 season and Super Bowl LV after the 2020 season, the second at their home stadium.
Can you tailgate at Raymond James Stadium?
Yes. Tailgating is allowed in the stadium lots within your own parking space, with low amplified sound, and it must stop at kickoff.