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Best of 2018, #5: Raymond James Stadium Renovations

Bar 76 Raymond James Stadium

We end 2018 with a countdown of the 10 biggest stories of the year on Football Stadium Digest, as chosen by editors and partially based on page views. Today, #5: The latest Raymond James Stadium renovations.

Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been undergoing a multi-phase, approximately $160 million renovation. Several components began to take shape this year, including renovations to the East Stadium Club and the addition of Bar 76.

Although work on a few parts of the renovation extended into the fall, the Buccaneers managed to pull off major changes to Raymond James Stadium in 2018.

The renovated East Stadium Club features two bars at each end of the club lounge. Other amenities include redesigned fixtures, padded stadium seating, and technology upgrades. Bar 76 (rendering above) also joins the East Stadium Club atrium as a 10,000-square foot restaurant and bar. The bar was named for the team’s inaugural 1976 season and features 76 varieties of beer, including MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch as well as beer from local and Florida-based breweries.

The Bucs also unveiled a new beach area called Bucs Beach on September 16. The area features tiki huts, live music, games, food trucks, and signature drinks. Bucs Beach is open three and a half hours before kickoff and fans don’t need a ticket to hang out in the area. The unique game-day experience has all sorts of activities like art demonstrations, performances, and giveaways which creates another element of the fan experience at Raymond James Stadium.

With the renovation work that has taken place, it is no wonder that the NFL announced last year that Raymond James Stadium would host the Super Bowl in 2021, filling that role as the result of construction delays to the new Los Angeles stadium. The renovations should boost the fan experience at a variety of events in addition to the Super Bowl, including a U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team match in March and home games for a new XFL team starting in February 2020. With the renovations taking place and new event opportunities coming to Raymond James Stadium, the sky is the limit for the facility’s future.

Here’s our Top Ten of 2018 to date:

Best of 2018, #6: New Spring Pro Football Leagues Unveiled

Best of 2018, #7: End Zone Development in College Stadiums

Best of 2018, #8: Ravens Continue M&T Bank Stadium Upgrades

Best of 2018, #9: Shad Khan’s Wembley Stadium Offer Stalls

Best of 2018, #10: University of South Alabama’s New Stadium Moves Forward

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August Publications