Raymond James Stadium

Address:4201 North Dale Mabry Highway
Tampa, Florida

Few stadiums take on their team's nickname the way Raymond James Stadium has. Home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the stadium features an enormous 103-foot pirate ship behind one of the end zones which fires rubber cannonballs and confetti whenever the Bucs score. Since opening in 1998, Raymond James Stadium has also been home to the South Florida Bulls college football team, and host to the Outback Bowl every New Year's Day. It was also the home of the Tampa Bay Mutiny, of Major League Soccer until that team folded in 2001. Raymond James Stadium has also hosted the Super Bowl (XXXV, Ravens over Giants), in 2001, and is scheduled to do so again in 2009.

The Buccaneers moved here in 1998 from Tampa Stadium, which was beginning to get run down, and their new digs have received nothing but rave reviews from fans and players alike. In 2002, the home team advanced to win Super Bowl XXXII, winning a playoff game at home along the way.

Raymond James Stadium also hosts assorted concerts and special events, such as monster truck competitions. Tours of the stadium are available Tuesday-Thursday, with group tours (with two-week reservations recommended) starting at 10 or 11 a.m., and walk-up tours at 2 p.m. Raymond James is just outside of downtown Tampa, between the city and Tampa International Airport. It can be reached via mass transit at the West Tampa Transfer Center.