Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium , also known as the " Ray Jay " , is a multi - purpose football stadium located in Tampa , Florida . It is home to the NFL ' s Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA ' s South Florida Bulls football team . The stadium seats 65 , 908 , and it is expandable to 75 , 000 for special events . The stadium also hosts the annual Outback Bowl on New Year ' s Day ; the annual pinnacle of USA equestrian showjumping , the AGA / Budweiser American Invitational ; and the Monster Jam monster truck event after the end of football season in January or February . Raymond James Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXV on January 28 , 2001 between the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants and Super Bowl XLIII on February 1 , 2009 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals . History . Raymond James Stadium was built to replace Tampa Stadium at the demand of new Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer . It is located adjacent to the site of the old stadium on the former location of Al Lopez Field , a minor league baseball stadium that had been demolished in 1989 . Once completed , the final cost of the new stadium was $ 168 . 5 million , with the entire cost publicly financed . It was known as Tampa Community Stadium during construction , but the naming rights were bought for $ 32 . 5 million for a thirteen – year deal by St . Petersburg - based Raymond James Financial in June 1998 . On April 27 , 2006 an extension was signed to maintain naming rights through 2015 . The stadium officially opened on September 20 , 1998 , when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears , 27 – 15 . The stadium hosted its first soccer game on March 20 , 1999 , when the Tampa Bay Mutiny lost to D . C . United , 5 – 2 . The stadium was selected to host the ACC Championship Game in 2008 and 2009 . On September 28 , 2007 , the ( then ranked # 18 ) University of South Florida Bulls set a record at Raymond James Stadium with a crowd of 67 , 018 when they played ( then ranked # 5 ) West Virginia . This record remained the largest non - Super Bowl crowd in the stadium ' s history until September 29 , 2012 when the University of South Florida Bulls played the Florida State University Seminoles before a crowd of 69 , 383 . The largest crowd ever recorded in Raymond James Stadium came on October 9 , 2009 , with U2 ’ s 360° Tour . More than 72 , 000 people were in attendance . Until 2010 , every Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium sold out . In 2010 , all home games failed to sell out and could not be broadcast on local television . The streak carried over until week 4 of the 2011 season when it sold enough tickets for its Monday Night game with the Indianapolis Colts on October 3rd to avoid a local blackout . The stadium was also home to the former Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer and continues to periodically host soccer matches due to its accommodating field dimensions . For example , on June 8 , 2012 , it hosted the United States men ' s national soccer team ' s opening qualifying match against Antigua and Barbuda for the 2014 World Cup where the US won 3 - 1 . Features . One of the most recognizable features of the stadium is a , 43 – ton steel - and - concrete replica pirate ship , which fires soft - rubber footballs and confetti each time that the Bucs score points or enter the other team ' s red zone . The cannon fires once for each point scored . In addition , when the Buccaneers enter their opponent ' s red zone , stadium hosts hoist team flag s around the perimeter of the upper deck . During various times throughout the game , the song " Yo Ho ( A Pirate ' s Life for Me ) " is played on the stadium public address system ( taken from Pirates of the Caribbean ) , which signals patrons onboard the ship to throw beads , t – shirts , and other free prizes to the people below . The segment is also known as a " Mini Gasparilla " to most fans . An animated parrot sits on the stern of the pirate ship . Controlled by radio and remote control , the parrot picks fans out of the crowd and talks to those passing by . During Super Bowl XXXV on CBS , the pre – game , halftime , and post – game desk reporting took place from aboard the pirate ship . NBC ' s Super Bowl XLIII coverage also emanated from the ship . The two " Buc Vision " wide Daktronics video displays are among the largest in the league . " Buccaneer Cove " features a weathered , two – story fishing village facade , housing stadium concessions and restroom s . All areas of the stadium are ADA compliant . Temporary bleacher s were erected in the endzones for Super Bowl XXXV , and the attendance was a then - stadium record 71 , 921 . In 2003 , the corner billboards in the stadium were replaced with rotating trilon billboards . Raymond James Stadium boasts the 2nd best turf in the NFL , according to a 2009 biannual players ' survey . Nicknames . The stadium is referred to as " Ray Jay " or " The New Sombrero " , a spinoff from " The Big Sombrero " , the nickname of old Tampa Stadium . Somewhat derisively , it is also sometimes referred to as " the CITS " , a name coined by long - time local sportscaster Chris Thomas which stands for " Community Investment Tax Stadium " . On occasion during radio broadcasts of games , Buccaneers ' radio play - by - play man Gene Deckerhoff refers to the stadium as " Jesse James Stadium " . Notable football games . Super Bowls NFL Playoff Games College Football Games