Raymond James Stadium will host Super Bowl LV in 2021, as the NFL has officially awarded the game to the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tampa and Raymond James Stadium are no strangers to the Super Bowl, as the city has hosted the game on four previous occasions, including twice at the Bucs’ current home. Its next Super Bowl comes under some unique circumstances, as the NFL originally awarded Super Bowl LV to the new Los Angeles stadium that is under construction in Inglewood. However, the NFL had to change course earlier this year when it was learned that the new Los Angeles stadium would open in 2020, rather than 2019 as expected.
The result was that Raymond James Stadium became the probable host of Super Bowl LV, with the Los Angeles venue taking Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The NFL is now confirming that it will follow through with that plan, allowing Raymond James Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl LV. More from The Tampa Bay Times:
“It was a great collaborative effort led by the Glazer family to push this through,’’ NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
Because the area was turned down in their bid for a Super Bowl for 2019 and 2020, which went to Atlanta and Miami, respectively, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Committee had to receive renewed commitments for the bid package. Although the list of requirements to host Super Bowl LV has not been shared, in the past the NFL has made some extravagant demands ranging from police protection, lush hotel accommodations and free access to golf courses.
It also helped that the Bucs have sunk $150-million into enhancements for Raymond James Stadium, including massive scoreboards, an improved sound system, renovated club areas and a new locker room.
Super Bowl LV is currently scheduled for February 7, 2021, and will be the first that is played at Raymond James Stadium since Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.
Image courtesy Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
RELATED STORIES: Raymond James Stadium to Host Super Bowl LV, LVI to L.A.