Where does RayJay rank?

Raymond James Stadium ranks 18th among 32 NFL stadiums based on results of an online fan survey conducted by Sports Illustrated.

The survey asked fans to rate their stadium experience based on factors such as affordability and food, tailgating, atmosphere, team quality, atmosphere and accessibility.

Green Bay's Lambeau Field ranks first, followed by Pittsburgh's Heinz Field and Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High.

The Bucs' home field and site of Super Bowl XLIII ranks 14th in team quality, 16th in tailgating, 17th in affordability and food, 19th in atmosphere and 23rd in accessibility.

(Times photo -- Ken Helle.)

Comments

[Valrico Rick]

And this means what to who? Unless those that were polled were completely objective, in other words not fans of any team, and visted each and every venue a number of times to get an "average" feel for the experience this is about as... Oh nevermind, what a waste!

[Dave In Arkansas]

I agree, Rick. I can't think of a less scientific poll... Oh wait!! Yes I can!! Those insipid "Power Polls" each week ranking the NFL teams top to bottom, as if this were college football and anybody's OPINION actually mattered.

[Duane]

This poll is as credible as asking a third grade class who has the best mother. GEEESSSSSH.

[CyberDilemma]

Case in point...The Meadowlands is ranked both 22nd and 30th. Very scientific study...seeing how they must have forgot to google each team's stadium location.

It's SI - they hate Tampa.

The Rays could win the Series and the cover that week will either be LeBron James or Peyton Manning.

It's because of those Over priced Beers!!

[Dan Bettan]

What a waste. I am a fan of the Bucs and have been to 2 football stadiums. I would rank the Bucs #1 in every category. And nothing would be learned.

[CW]

Great point Dan Bettan...did each fan polled go to every single stadium?

How about ranking stadiums by the weather? I bet it would go something like San Diego, Miami, Tampa, Arizona, Jax in some order in the top five. But, that still wouldn't mean that any of those stadiums have good teams or good fan experiences.

Lambeau #1 based upon history maybe, but I wouldn't want to be sitting out there on a Sunday night in December!

[big poppa]

first of all tampa is a melting pot of america. we have people from everywhere. The local fan base is strong for the bucs when the win but also they love other teams as well. Most of those people are bandwagon and dont committe to the Bucs. The radio stations are bunk and spit junk about the bucs and have nothing to say against the win on sunday. So pick your team and follow them

[Itch]

Sounds to me like the pollers live in Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Denver.

[Itch]

I would like RayJay more if they still called it the "Big Sombrerro".

[DR]

I am an idiot.

[Olan Hill]

After attending games at all but 5 NFL stadiums, I only dissagree with the 19th ranking for atmosphere. With the large patio areas offered in Raymond James Stadium (mixed in with the pirate themed concession stands and ship)you can leave your seat without leaving the excitement of the game. This isn't possible at other stadiums; even some of the newer facilities like Enesco Field in Denver can't match the atmosphere at RayJay. However, given the isolated location of the stadium from Downtown, accessiblity is inconvenient. In many other NFL cities you can easily walk to the stadium from major hotels or at the very least use light rail and/or other public transportation. Also, because of the Sports Authority's strict tailgating regulations, participating in some of the common activities like grilling and tossing a football aren't possible. My biggest gripe at Raymond James Stadium is with Levy Restaurants (the contracted food and beverage provider) and the lack of local food fanfare. Unlike Philadelphia where you can buy a cheesesteak sandwich or New England where you can buy a cup of clam chowder, Raymond James offers no taste of Tampa! Where can a fan buy a cuban sandwich, a grouper sandwich, a devil crab or even a small cup of black bean and rice soup? Nowhere!! All we get is the staple hamburger, hotdog and pretzel at a ridiculous high price. Finally, I'm not sure what the "team quality" ranking is, so perhaps someone can fill me in. Go Bucs!

[RJ]

Hey DR, notice how nobody is disputing your claim? Don't worry, the same thing happens every time I proclaim myself to be an idiot. That was very funny.

[Adam]

I'll tell ya... I find RayJay to be average at best. The ushers are rude. The TPD changes the flow of traffic every single game. The escalators never work. Every bit of food is something batter-fried. If you throw a football in the HCC lot, you'll get a ticket (that's not a lie - TPD did it at the first game). Aside from the pirate ship (which you will be SHOT if you try and get on it) the stadium is very ho-hum. Georgia Dome is nicer and so is Carolina's stadium in Charlotte.

[Dark Side]

Hold on... Hold on. Am I reading this correctly? I am a loyal Buc fan that lives in MD. I have been to several redskins games and even I enjoyed myself becuase of the tailgaiting activities such as grilling and playing games like washers, etc. I have been waiting to go to a Buc game for years! I always visit home during the offseason, so i never get to see the bucs live. BUT ARE YOU SERIOUSLY TELLING ME I CANT GRILL OR THROW AROUND A FOOTBALL? THIS CANT BE TRUE... THERE IS NO POINT OF TAILGAITING THEN!! PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS NOT TRUE, ITS GOING TO TAKE ALL THE FUN OUT OF MY FIRST RAY-JAY EXPERIENCE. NEXT YOUR GOING TO TELL ME WE CANT DRINK! IF THIS IS TRUE, THEN WE BELONG LAST ON THIS STUPID LIST.

[Erie Eddy]

Olan "Over the" Hill obviously never cranked up a grill in Lot 8 with the rest of us long-time season ticket holders, as there is plenty of Game Day cookin' goin' on!
And the South End Zone used to truly be a great place to meet friends sitting in different sections until they stuck the Beer of the Year Party Deck there and limited it's use to some kind of weekly promotions winners while taking up our space for which we dearly pay. I do believe throwing the football around has been outlawed recently. And I have been telling the Bucs for years in the Game Day surveys to put some Port-a-Johns in Lot 8 because we certainly pay enough for them, but I am still waiting on that.
The beer prices are similar to every other major league sports venue but the stadium is lacking that "Taste of Tampa" the locals would prefer, but there must not be enough profit margin on real food.
Other than that, the game day experience is great, except that it costs me $45/game more for two tickets and parking this year vs. last.

[Mike J]

Sorry top say, I have never been to the "new" stadium, bit I LOVED going to games at the Sombrero.Easy to get in & out of, & acres of parking for tailgating. This ridiculous ranking puts Jacksonville's un-named stadium #1 for accessibility. Well, maybe for sports writers, but I, a Jax native, have been to games there since c.1958, & it is a major drag getting in & out. High school, college, minor league pro's, AFL All-Star games--all have been a royal pain of delays & traffic jams.Shows "SI"'s credibility once again.

[Larry]

I think Ray jay is a great place once you're in your seat. In the nosebleed area that I hang out at it's a hassle to get back to the concessions so I don't bother. Once the game is over, what an ordeal it is to get to I275!
I used to like the Lion's Silverdome in Pontiac. It was convenient and fan friendly. E Z in and out and never a hassle to go get a beer or a dog. Special shuttle buses to various suburbs in special lanes so no waiting!

[Sinfonian]

Bottom line: yes, you can grill. No, you can't (well, you're not allowed to) throw a football in the parking lots (which I think is absurd). And the patdowns are utterly ludicrous.

Having said all that, a bad day at RayJay still beats a good day at work.