The 2012 Official Buccaneers Draft Party Presented by Miller Lite is set for the evening of Thursday, April 26, and if you're kicking around the idea of attending, consider this: You could be a witness to franchise history.

Think about it this way: Where were you when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks in one of the finest first rounds in NFL history?  Do you remember what you were doing when the Buccaneers traded up to ensure they got franchise quarterback Josh Freeman?  How long after the fact did you find out that your team picked Paul Gruber, Warrick Dunn or Davin Joseph?

Okay, it's not exactly man-landing-on-the-moon stuff, in terms of remembering where you were when it happened, but first-round draft picks are often the things that make or break the future of an NFL franchise.  The moment such a selection is made can be a very memorable one for avid fans.   Heck, the outsized reactions of the fans who attend the draft at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City indicate just how deeply these moments resonate with a team's fan base.

On the evening of the 26th, the Buccaneers will make the fifth pick in the first round of the draft, barring a trade down.  With a new coaching staff in place under Greg Schiano and an aggressive plan in place to return Tampa Bay to its winning ways, it's quite possible the player the Buccaneers select that evening will be a franchise-altering addition.  What better way to take in this moment than in the company of hundreds of other Buccaneer fans, in the very stadium the newest Buc will make his mark, and with an evening's worth of entertainment in place to make the occasion memorable?

Want to be a part of it?  You can RSVP for the event right now on the Buccaneers' Facebook page.

The Buccaneers' Official Draft Party has become a highly-anticipated event, with thousands of fans gathering in the East Club Lounge at Raymond James Stadium to share their enthusiasm.  It's easy to understand why: Admittance to the event is free, the night is filled with exclusive entertainment and autograph opportunities and discounted food and beverage are just the icing on the cake.

Here's what you need to do to immerse yourself in the Buccaneers' 2012 draft: RSVP, and show up at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, the 26th.  From there, the evening will be what you make of it.

For instance, you'll find full coverage of the draft on the enormous videoboards inside the East Club Lounge.  WDAE 620 AM, the Buccaneers' gameday flagship station, will also be broadcasting live from the event.  Select Buccaneer alumni will be on hand to add to the WDAE coverage and sign autographs for fans.  The new 2012-13 Tampa Bay Cheerleaders will also be in attendance, greeting fans and signing autographs of their own.

Party sponsor Miller Lite is in on the fun, too.  They'll be providing MillerCoors Premium Beer Sampling to attendees who are 21 years or older.  Fans will also have a chance to win autographed items at the Miller Lite tent.

Buccaneers.com will also be providing coverage of the event on the Club Lounge videoboards, complete with live check-ins from draft headquarters in New York City.  Minutes after the Buccaneers make their first-round selection, Buccaneers.com will provide an exclusive on-scene interview with the team's newest player.  If you're following the team's draft on Twitter, it will be particularly easy at the Draft Party, as the live Twitter feed will be displayed on the video walls.  Join in the conversation on Twitter using "#bucsdraft."

Again, and as always, the Buccaneers' Official Draft Party Presented by Miller Lite is free and open to all comers.  Throw on your Bucs jersey and head down to Raymond James Stadium on Thursday night.  The doors to the East Club Lounge (Himes Road Entrance) open at 6:30 p.m. ET.  Parking Lots 2 and 4 open at 6:00, if you want to be among the first into the party.

If you're reading this, you're probably going to be watching the draft on Thursday anyway.  Why not watch it on huge HD video walls inside the Club Lounge?  Not only will you be in the middle of a like-minded crowd of Buc fans, but you'll get the chance to mingle with Buccaneers Cheerleaders and prominent team alumni.  You'll also have the opportunity to partake of discounted food and beverages.  And, best of all, you'll feel like you were a part of Buccaneers history.

Join us Thursday night, April 26, for the Official Buccaneers Draft Party Presented by Miller Lite.