NFL Stadium Showcase: Raymond James Stadium

Monday night, the 2017 CFP National Championship game will be played at Raymond James Stadium (RJS) in Tampa. Opened in 1998, the facility serves as the home field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of South Florida Bulls and the annual Outback Bowl. In addition, the stadium has hosted two Super Bowls. RJS sits immediately east of Tampa’s well-traveled Dale Mabry Hwy, in close proximity to Steinbrenner Field (Yankees spring training complex), the Buccaneers’ practice facility and Tampa International Airport. The property is found four miles northwest of downtown Tampa and 21 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico.

RJS boasts a seating capacity of 66,000, with a design that allows for the placement of 9,000 additional seats when needed. The structure includes 195 luxury suites and 12,000 club seats, covering the length of each sideline. Both the east and west sections of suites are placed near large Stadium Club lounges, equipped with multi TV sports bars and restaurants.

The East side suite level also features the Hall of Fame Club and Ring of Honor Club, which are separate 9,000 square-foot membership only entertaining and game viewing areas.  

The area behind each end zone is equipped with 9,600-square-foot HD video boards, with each corner of the field possessing rotating billboards.

Located above the north end zone, RJS’s more recognizable feature is without question its 103-foot pirate ship, complete with firing cannons. The ship is closed to the public during stadium events, but available for party rentals during non-event days. Buccaneer Cove (found behind the pirate ship) is a 20,000-square-foot pirate themed concession and gathering area.

The setting behind the south end zone also serves as an assembly spot for fans.

RJS is home to 10,000 on-site parking spaces, with another 15,000 available nearby.