 "Photo: Curtis Roberts")
The rain may have washed off the red and black face paint on tailgaters at the Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys season opening game Sunday Sept. 13, 2009, but inside Bucs fans were still bleeding red and black.
Despite the rain showers, parking lots were covered with fans showing their diehard dedication for the Tampa Bay Bucs. Some fans painted their entire bodies while others wore red and black clown wigs. One older man dressed up like a cheerleader and waved pom poms around in the parking lot.
The Raymond James Stadium parking lots were so packed with fans celebrating, that some patrons even went to the extent and paid local homeowners to pay local homeowners to park in their yards. Many refer to tailgating as a religious ceremony that occurs before all Bucs home games, and such extremes are just part of the ritual.
Jose Garcia, has lived in his home on the corner of Woodlawn Road and Glenn Road, for 20 plus years, and rents out parking spots in his yard for $20. Garcia lives close to the stadium, and allows people to tailgate, with granted access to his inside bathrooms.
“The homeowner taxes are very expensive here,” Garcia Said. “So I raise money during the football season to help pay my taxes.”
Garcia’s yard was filled with more than 15 cars, and a tent covering a grilling area. The rain did not hinder the tailgating at Garcia’s house, instead the tailgaters took advantage of Garcia’s covered carport and porch to stay dry and continue tailgating.
Raymond James Stadium charges cars and motorcycles $25 to park, which is not included in the price of the ticket
Andrew McCarthy, 24, Brandon, has a different approach.
“My friends and I usually ride together and split the cost of parking,” McCarthy said. “The cost of the tickets and everything for tailgating are already expensive enough.”
McCarthy and his friends tailgated in full college style, they had a keg filled with Michelob Ultra, a huge grill barbecuing hamburgers, and two small tables topped with red Dixie cups for beer pong.
A friendly game of touch football before the big game is no longer an option at Raymond James Stadium. Raymond James website clearly states no throwing or kicking of objects while tailgating. This is just another change to the rules that have been made in the last few years.
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