Bucs fans set to cheer inside, outside Super Bowl stadium

Warren Sapp wishes fans of Tampa Bay Buccaneers could pack stands for first Super Bowl played in a host team’s home stadium.

Because of coronavirus pandemic concerns, NFL’s decision to limit capacity to 22,000 at Raymond James Stadium, and soaring prices for a limited number of tickets available for league’s title game will prevent that.

All’s t lost, though, for an excited though sometimes fickle fan base embracing a bittersweet opportunity to enjoy NFC champions on football’s biggest st after being forced to follow Tom Brady-led Bucs, as well as playoff runs by region’s or two major pro franchises, from afar.

NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning won Stanley Cup while playing entire postseason in Canada, n was unable to fully celebrate with hometown fans, who were left to salute team during a boat parade and outdoor stadium rally that replaced a more traditional-style celebration on streets of downtown Tampa.

Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays played two playoff games in neighboring St. Petersburg before winning American League pennant in California and losing to Los Angeles Dodgers in a neutral-site World Series played in Texas.

Bucs won three straight playoff games on road to become first team to advance to a Super Bowl in its home stadium.

Tampa Bay has a reputation nationally for supporting Lightning, but t Bucs and Rays, who routinely rank near or at bottom of baseball in attendance.

past year truly has been special for all franchises, though, and fans are celebrating any way y can.

“ Bucs in Super Bowl with game at home doesn’t even seem real. Usually re’s a buildup. A team goes to playoffs, loses and goes back and loses again. It takes time to get good,” long-time fan Justin Heaven said.

“ Bucs go 7-9 with Jameis Winston, haven’t won a playoff game in 18 years and haven’t been to playoffs in 13,” Heaven added. "Tom Brady comes to town and it’s basically: `You want to go to Super Bowl? Come on, let’s go.’”

Fans happily are following, even if y won’t be able to get in or mingle around stadium with a game-day crowd that’ll include 7,500 vaccinated health care workers given tickets as a thank you for ir service during pandemic.

Restaurants and bars figure to be busier than y’ve been in months, though much of glitz and glamour usually associated with Super Bowl will be muted with some events canceled and city officials urging local residents and visitors to practice social distancing.

“We’ve got biggest game in our house, we’re in it and can’t fill it? I kw that’s disappointing for a lot of fans. But people have got to be smart and stay safe,” Sapp, one of stars of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl championship run 18 years ago, said.

“You want that place rocking. 22,000? And n 7,500 of that are going to be neutral, and rest maybe split even. That's just our luck,” Hall of Fame defensive tackle said. “I’d like to see all 65,000 — at least 60 — in re pulling or us.”

Derrick Brooks, ar Hall of Famer and defensive star with 2002 Bucs, is co-chairman of Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee, which has worked closely with NFL and local sponsors to prepare community to host title game for a fifth time.

It’s 55th Super Bowl, and Brooks wore . 55 for Bucs.

“Obviously, it has got everybody excited. Warren and I were on phone practically every or play last week watching m beat Green Bay. That was a whole lot of fun,” Brooks said.

“With Lightning winning Cup and Rays coming within a couple of games of winning World Series, it’s kind of fitting with Bucs making first part of history,” Brooks.

“I say that because story’s still being written. y’re still making history and can finish it by being first to win it in ir home stadium.”

Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and several teammates took in a Bucs game in early October and even brought along Stanley Cup.

Super Bowl Sunday will be a travel day for hockey champions, so y won’t be in town during game.

“It’s been amazing to watch and obviously be a part of. This city is very deserving of that. We have very loyal fan bases and it’s a great sports town,” Stamkos said of success of Lightning, Rays, and w Bucs.

“At end of day we’re all sports fans. I grew up playing all those sports as a kid. You kind of dream that you could be a professional athlete in a different sport too,” Stamkos added. “I watch those guys, I admire m. It’s inspiring for us as athletes to watch what y have to go through to achieve ir dreams.”

Tampa mayor Jane Castor and counterparts from St. Petersburg and nearby Clearwater, meanwhile, stress importance of everyone balancing having a good time and staying safe during a pandemic.

“ only people we want leaving disappointed," mayor said, "is Kansas City Chiefs.”