An autograph from Simeon Rice. A front-row seat for a roundtable discussion with Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden. A chance meeting with an NFL cheerleader on the very field on which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
Sounds like a year's worth of pursuits for a Buccaneers fan. Instead, it could be the spoils of one awesome day at Raymond James Stadium.
It is time, once again, for FanFest.
The 2004 Buccaneers FanFest, presented by Winn-Dixie, will take place this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. It is free and open to the public. The highly-anticipated, which combines coveted opportunities for autographs with interactive games and other attractions, annually draws tens of thousands of fans to the Buccaneers' game day home.
Last year, a record crowd of 45,000 fans attended FanFest and took advantage of two different autograph sessions split into several areas around the stadium. Given the success of the autograph system used for the last several years, the team will once again station specific groups of players inside the Club Lounges, with another large group of players and coaches available in the West Main Concourse.
Fans looking to obtain autographs from the players inside the club Lounges will first need to acquire free vouchers at the ticket windows on the south side of the stadium. The vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Vouchers are not required to get autographs from the players on the main concourse.
The first wave of Buccaneer players will sign autographs from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Included in this group will be Rice, Brad Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, Brian Kelly, Ian Gold, Shelton Quarles, Martin Gramatica and many others.
The second autograph session will run from noon to 2:00 p.m. and will feature such Buccaneers as Anthony McFarland, Charlie Garner, Jermaine Phillips, Michael Clayton and Michael Pittman.
During both sessions, the Main Concourse area will feature 25 or more players. There will be a limit of one item per person to be autographed by each player. Due to the large number of people expected to attend FanFest, the Buccaneers cannot guarantee that all fans will receive an autograph. However, the current system was designed to give as many fans as possible an opportunity to acquire their favorite players' signatures. As usual, there will be plenty of other attractions for the fans who venture out to FanFest on Saturday. Allen, Gruden and several assistant coaches will engage in a Coaches' Corner, in which they will discuss their goals for the upcoming season. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to meet the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders as well as team mascot Captain Fear.
The interactive games, popular among the kids (and grown kids!) who want to throw, kick and run like their favorite Buccaneers, are back as well. Refreshments will be available, of course.
A few key facts about the 2004 Buccaneers FanFest, presented by Winn-Dixie.
- Date: Saturday, June 5, 2004 * Stadium gates Open at 9:30 a.m. * Autograph voucher distribution begins at 9:30 a.m. at the south side ticket windows (supplies limited) * Fans may enter the stadium through Gates C or D * Free parking will be available in Lots 5 & 7 as well as 6D (enter lots on Himes Avenue and follow directions posted on message boards to open parking areas) * First autograph session: 10:00 a.m. to noon * Second autograph session: Noon to 2:00 p.m.
