Football season is starting. That means a fresh start, new players and optimism for the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It also means your wallet might get sacked if you want to see the team live. The very cheapest game tickets are $30 — and at that price, you’d better have great eyesight or a good pair of binoculars. For a better view, you could easily pay twice that much, or more. The best sideline seats are nearly $120 each. And it’s the same price for preseason games, which don’t even count.
(Courtesy of Buccaneers.com)
But your money will be intercepted before you even get to the gate. If you’re lucky, you might find a parking space for $10, assuming you like long walks on Sunday mornings. More likely, it will be $15 or $25 just to leave your car in the sun for several hours.
And are you the type of person who gets hungry and thirsty?
That’s going to hurt, too. It’s great to have a National Football League team to cheer for and support, but there’s nothing cheap about seeing them.
Or is there?
Beginning Aug. 1, the Buccaneers will have 11 open practices during training camp on select dates through Aug. 19. Admission is free, and parking is free. It’s the best way to see the team in action without breaking the bank.
Before the games, and before the preseason, the team goes through challenging workouts on a daily basis in training camp.
The practice field is where the young players get in their reps, the veterans shake off the rust, and utility players fight hard to make the team. It’s where the coaches work on their game plans, and the offensive and defensive schemes that best fit their players.
While it’s not a game situation, it can be fun and educational for football fans.
After all, you’re seeing the team develop its identity before the season starts. You’ll see players earn spots on the roster, and you might see a few wrinkles that get used during the regular season.
And, if you really want to see how the team is progressing, the best way is to see them for yourself.
Best of all, you’ll see the money in your purse stay there. You can go to a practice or two (or all 11, if you want) and not spend a penny. Just find a date and time that works for you, show up and spend a couple of hours watching the team, and enjoy the start of a new football season.
And if you have young fans in the family, the experience is even better. Children under 12 can go on the field and get autographs from players after practice. The Buccaneers also have a special Kids Zone during the open practices, which includes football skills stations, a dunk tank and face painting. You might even see the team’s cheerleaders and mascot, Captain Fear, too.
There’s also discounted concessions, so you can afford to eat or drink something. And you’ll even find the latest merchandise in case you catch a little team spirit and want to spend some of that money you saved watching the team for free.
Unless you know a player or have a rich uncle — or you have a rich uncle who’s also a player — this is the best way to see the team on a budget.
Practice doesn’t count, but it definitely matters. It’s the next best thing to going to a game. And for children, who have a Kids Zone and autographs to enjoy, it might be even better than going to a game.
Plus, it’s free. You can’t get more “On the Cheap” than that. Enjoy.
Practices are at One Buccaneer Place (which is also the address), just off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Raymond James Stadium.
For more information, call (813) 870-2700, or visit Buccaneers.com.
What: See the Bucs in action for free during the team’s open practices
Where: One Buccaneer Place, off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, near Raymond James Stadium.
When: The free training camps are scheduled for:
• Aug. 1: 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Aug. 2: 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Aug. 3: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 4: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Aug. 6: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 8: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 11: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 12: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 17: 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Aug. 18: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 19: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 870-2700, or visit Buccaneers.com.
Published July 29, 2015
