NFL stadiums are growing rapidly. From the 25,000 square foot jumbotron of the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, to the construction of the Minnesota Vikings’ cutting-edge, U.S. Bank Stadium, NFL venues are evolving. Not just changing in their overwhelming size or design, but in overall experience.
The shifting winds of technology dominating this era in sports are evident, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are joining the party.
Beginning with the 2016 season and including the 2017 College Football National Championship in January, the Buccaneers new Raymond James Stadium Experience will provide fans with a “state-of-the-art game day experience.”
Major renovations began back in January 2016 and will reach $140+ million upon completion during the multiphase overhaul of Raymond James.
Now I am sure you are wondering, what are they pouring all that money into? Well, the Bucs have developed a plan to take the project from a one dimensional perspective to an immersive 360-degree experience informing fans of the future.
Located at One Buc Place, the new Raymond James Stadium Experience technology showcase is dubbed, the PreView Center. The pirate ship layout and overall feel in the One Buc lobby stays true to the team’s roots as it takes fans through Buccaneer football from a different perspective.
The PreView Center will include a Replica North End Zone Video Board, Interactive Touch Screens and Virtual Reality components.
An all-new 9,600 square foot video board will stretch across both end zones displaying the Bucs fly though video recreated using EA Sports/Madden which encompasses all the upcoming projects. The video highlights one of Jameis Winston’s signature plays from his Pro Bowl season, a transformed game day experience, the exclusive 240-guest Hall of Fame Club and upgrades to the all-new Luxury Suite experience.
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Interactive Touch Screens will house all the components of the renovation project (fly through, renderings, project details, PreView Center appointments and FAQs) through NewBucsGameday.com. Using slider bar technology, the Bucs also developed a 360-degree immersive experience that shows the old RJS morphing into its future form right before the viewer’s eyes.
Virtual Reality will also be present in the game day experience as users will be placed side-by-side with quarterback, Jameis Winston, and team insider, Casey Phillips. The virtual tour winds through the Bucs game day experience capturing it all, even the Hall of Fame Club all while standing in one spot at the PreView Center. Viewers will be able see first hand how the club will look on game day as they go through the VR journey.
Along with the 9,600 square foot video board, Raymond James will be home to the 3rd largest total video display space in the NFL reaching over 28,000 square feet. In all four corners of the stadium, a 2,304 square foot HD video tower will soar above the field. A HD ribbon video board will also surround the entire stadium, accompanied by a new, fully distributed sound system.
Luxury Suits are also a cornerstone of the $100+ million renovation project. The suit’s open floor plan includes, upgraded TVs, granite and woodwork finishes, open-air seating, a vast amount of catering options as well as the rights to your seats for over twenty events at Raymond James Stadium such as, USF home games, Monster Jam, Concerts, Outback Bowl and other marquee events which you can also attend as a member of the fully air-conditioned Hall of Fame Club.
The final phase of the renovations – which will be completed by the 2017 season – will feature the remodeling of the east and west club lounges, expansions of the general concourses, development of a team store and other general enhancements.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are well on their way to becoming a staple experience in the NFL. With sails set towards times to come, the Bucs are bellowing, “Land Ho!” as the future of NFL stadium technology is within sight.