Raymond James Stadium Tailgating
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Tampa, FL
Tailgating is permitted across the Raymond James Stadium lots, with the constraint expressed as a single measured bay: one 10 by 24 foot parking spot per party, and no saving spaces for friends still on the road. Tents cap at 10 by 10 feet without prior approval from stadium management and the licensee, and they cannot be combined into a larger one. Nothing may block another spot, a walkway or an aisle, and the drive lanes have to stay clear for emergency vehicles. Two things surprise people: tailgating must cease at kickoff, and recreational activities — throwing a football in the lot — are not allowed at all. Roughly 10,000 spaces sit on site with another 15,000 off it, first-come first-served and entirely cashless.
Tips & Fan Reports
Get there 4-5 hours before kickoff. Find field parking down the road and tailgate with the Krewe till kickoff. The grass lots have the best tailgate scene.
Every lot is cashless, so there is no paying at the gate with notes.
You get one 10 by 24 foot spot per party and cannot save a space, so a group in several cars needs to arrive together.
No throwing a football in the lot. Raymond James bans recreational activities outright, which catches out more visitors than any of its equipment rules.
Two 10 by 10 tents cannot be zipped into one — combining tents is specifically prohibited, and anything larger needs prior approval.
On-site spaces are first-come first-served rather than reserved, and there are 15,000 off-site spaces for when they go.
Where to Tailgate
On-site stadium lots
About 10,000 spaces in the lots around the stadium, sold first-come first-served and operating cashless and contactless. Tailgating is permitted, one 10 by 24 foot bay per party.
Known for ~10,000 spaces · Cashless · One 10x24 spot per party
Off-site lots
A further 15,000 or so spaces off the stadium site, the overflow once the on-site lots go. Also first-come, first-served.
Known for ~15,000 spaces · Overflow parking
The Veranda tailgate spaces
The stadium's own bookable hospitality tailgate areas — Veranda Tailgate A, C and D — run as event spaces rather than open lot tailgating, for groups that would otherwise need more than one bay.
Known for Bookable · Hospitality · For larger groups
The emergency drive lanes
The aisles between the lot rows, which must be left clear for emergency vehicles at all times. Nothing — tents, trailers, chairs, coolers or barbecues — may block a spot, a walkway or an aisle.
Known for Must stay clear · No equipment in aisles
Rules to Know
What Raymond James Stadium allows, and what it does not.
- Tailgating is permitted in the stadium parking lots.
- Only one 10' x 24' parking spot may be occupied per party, and saving spaces is not permitted.
- Tailgating must cease at kickoff.
- Blocking other spots, walkways or aisle ways with tents, trailers, chairs, coolers or barbecues is not allowed.
- Drive lanes must be left clear for emergency vehicles at all times.
- Tents over 10' x 10' are not permitted on stadium property without prior approval from stadium management and the licensee, or proper permits, and tents cannot be combined to make a larger tent.
- Recreational activities such as throwing footballs are not allowed.
- Parking is available first-come, first-served, with approximately 10,000 spaces on site and 15,000 off site.
- All parking lots operate cashless and contactless transactions.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Raymond James Stadium has a no-bag policy; each guest may carry one clutch no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches, and it does not need to be clear.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages are prohibited, with exceptions for infants, toddlers, and documented medical needs arranged in advance.
- A card or a phone wallet
Food, beverage, and retail locations are cashless, and reverse ATMs at select locations convert cash to a general-use Visa value card.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Buccaneers tickets use a live mobile barcode in the Buccaneers or Ticketmaster app; screenshots and printed tickets are not accepted.
- A light layer for after sunset
January, the coolest month of the season here, still averages 53°F at night.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
September highs average 90°F at Raymond James Stadium, with no roof over the seats.
- A poncho, not an umbrella
Umbrellas are on Raymond James Stadium's prohibited list, and September averages 6.1 inches of rain.
Tailgate Gear
Lots open with the lots, ending at kickoff.
- A tent of 10 by 10 feet or smaller — larger needs prior approval, and two cannot be combined
- A setup that fits one 10 by 24 foot spot, since that is all a party gets
- Nothing that spills into a walkway or drive lane, which must stay clear for emergency vehicles
- A card rather than cash: every lot is cashless and contactless
- Leave the football at home — recreational activities are not permitted in the lots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
Raymond James Stadium official site: Stadium Policies and Parking & Transportation
- Venue policies
Raymond James Stadium A-Z, accessibility, policy, mobile-ticket, and Buccaneers gameday pages reviewed for visitor-facing policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals