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85-523: Dale Mabry Highway has many items of interest, including Raymond James Stadium , George M. Steinbrenner Field , Tampa International Airport , the Dale Mabry branch of the Hillsborough Community College , Plant High School , Gaither High School , shopping centers, car dealerships and restaurants. Dale Mabry Highway carries several designations throughout its route. The lane counts along

170-472: A 2021 CONCACAF Champions League match between Toronto FC and Cruz Azul . Major League Soccer returned to the stadium on February 14, 2025 for a preseason game between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF , the two current MLS teams in Florida. WWE planned to host WrestleMania 36 —the 2020 edition of its flagship professional wrestling pay-per-view —at Raymond James Stadium on April 5. However, due to

255-509: A 13–year agreement. Contract extensions signed in 2006 and 2016 have extended the naming rights deal through 2028. The stadium is referred to as "Ray Jay". Somewhat derisively, it has been occasionally referred to as "the CITS", a name coined by long-time local sportscaster Chris Thomas which stands for "Community Investment Tax Stadium", referring to the fact that the stadium was entirely financed by local taxpayers. Raymond James Stadium has hosted

340-484: A 2.56% from two or more races. 17.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The county was the thirty-second most populous county in the nation. Of the 391,357 households, 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were not families. Roughly 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who

425-913: A family was $ 59,886. Males had a median income of $ 43,125 versus $ 35,184 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 27,062. About 10.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over. In 2010, 15.1% of the county's population was foreign born , with 44.5% being naturalized American citizens . Of foreign-born residents, 67.5% were born in Latin America , 16.7% born in Asia , 9.2% were born in Europe , 3.2% born in Africa , 3.1% in North America , and 0.3% were born in Oceania . As of

510-487: A football stadium to "hold their nose" and vote yes anyway. On September 3, 1996, the ballot measure passed by a margin of 53% to 47%. After the vote, the season ticket deposit drive fell 17,000 short of its 50,000 goal at the team-imposed deadline, the Buccaneers' offer to pay half of stadium construction costs was withdrawn, and the facility was designed and built entirely at public expense. Before construction began on

595-587: A household in the county was $ 40,663, and for a family was $ 48,223. Males had a median income of $ 34,111 versus $ 26,962 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,812. About 9.10% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over. Source: U.S. Census As of 2010, 74.59% of the population spoke only English at home, 19.52% spoke Spanish , 0.56% French Creole (mainly Haitian Creole ), and 0.51% spoke Vietnamese as their mother language . In total, 25.41% of

680-562: A private business in claiming that the "sweetheart deal" should be voided. A local court ruled in Poe's favor, but upon appeal, the Supreme Court of Florida ruled that the lease was constitutional because the stadium provided a "public benefit", and construction continued as planned. In 1998, a 13-year deal was agreed with Raymond James Financial , headquartered in St. Petersburg , for naming rights to

765-431: A reported attendance of 25,675 each night, a combined total of 51,350 spectators on both nights, a sellout reported by the company. The show marked the first time in over a year the company had hosted a show with fans in live attendance, since March 11, 2020. Raymond James Stadium has hosted several large scale concerts, with the largest attendance (72,000) coming at a show by U2 in 2009. The annual Sunset Music Festival

850-405: A settlement with popular sports-seating and telescopic platform/bleacher company Hussey Seating of North Berwick, Maine . Following the stadium's opening in 1998, roughly 50,000 Hussey-manufactured seats at Raymond James Stadium began to fade from their original color – a bright, vibrant shade of red – to a shade of washed-out pink. Spotting this obvious defect, the Buccaneers organization pleaded to

935-491: A widening project took place in the 1970s, increasing the road to four lanes. The project was at least partly contributed by the construction of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway in 1974. In 2002, a roundabout was constructed just north of the main gate to MacDill as part of a security enhancement and road improvement project for the base. The section of Dale Mabry Highway between Gandy Boulevard and Hillsborough Avenue

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1020-471: A widening project which increased that section to four lanes. The section of Dale Marby Highway between Hillsborough Avenue and Busch Boulevard/Gunn Highway is signed as a portion of State Road 580 . The Hillsborough Avenue interchange is a remnant of a failed freeway plan along Dale Mabry Highway. The original North Crosstown Expressway was supposed to have connected Dale Mabry at this (or the MLK) intersection, but

1105-652: Is a multi-purpose stadium in Tampa, Florida , United States. It opened in 1998 and is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) and the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls college football program. The seating capacity for most sporting events is 69,218, though it can be expanded to about 75,000 for special events with the addition of temporary seating. Raymond James Stadium

1190-455: Is a 1-mile (or less) exception between Spruce and Cypress Streets. The only reason why that noted section was not rehabilitated is because of pending reconstruction on Interstate 275 . Originally constructed in 1943 to connect MacDill Air Force Base with Drew Field , Dale Mabry Highway was named after Dale Mabry , a Florida native and World War I aviator. Dale Mabry runs along what was originally called Vera Ave. according to land plots from

1275-431: Is also hosted at the stadium. Taylor Swift 's The Eras Tour is the first act in stadium history to sell out two and three shows on a single tour. Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida . In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside

1360-533: Is around 888 square miles (2,300 km ), more than 84% of the total land area. Municipalities account for 163 square miles (420 km ). The modern boundaries of the county place it midway along the west coast of Florida. A narrow portion of Hillsborough County to the south, consisting almost exclusively of water, extends west to the Gulf of Mexico roughly along the Tampa Port Shipping Channel. This has

1445-473: Is designated as State Road 597's entire length. This section of Dale Mabry Highway continues to be four to six lanes north of Bearss Ave up to the Veterans Expressway . The line of businesses and apartment/condo developments continue along the highway until the Veterans Expressway . North of the expressway, the highway changes to a more rural setting towards the terminus of US 41 , where it also crosses

1530-459: Is four lanes wide, divided. Until the late 1990s, a Jai Alai fronton stood on the west side of the highway just south of Gandy Boulevard. The facility closed in July 1998 after 45 years of operation after the parent company of the fronton sold the 40-acre (160,000 m) property for $ 8.3 million. Today, a Home Depot and Sam's Club store sit on the property. Originally a two-lane stretch,

1615-456: Is signed as U.S. Route 92 ( State Road 600 ). This stretch of Dale Mabry Highway snakes through several south Tampa business areas and a residential district before approaching Raymond James Stadium with the SR 685 concurrency ending at Henderson Boulevard. The section of Dale Mabry between Gandy Boulevard and Kennedy Boulevard ( SR 60 ) remains four lanes with moderate improvements taking place over

1700-556: The 2001 season after facing declining revenue due to declining attendance and the Bucs' lease at Raymond James Stadium, which saw the Mutiny receiving no money from parking or concessions. They played their last home match on September 9, 2001, a 2–1 loss to the Columbus Crew . The team had an average attendance of 10,479 per match in their final season at Raymond James Stadium. In April 2003,

1785-503: The C. W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir and Lithia Springs , one of the largest natural springs in Florida. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 1,459,762 people, 539,919 households, and 338,683 families residing in the county. U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics: In 2010, 6.0% of the Hillsborough's population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.) Of

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1870-553: The COVID-19 pandemic , WWE subsequently filmed it at its training facility in Orlando instead, behind closed doors with no audience and only essential staff present. In January 2021, WWE announced that WrestleMania 37 (which was originally announced as being hosted by SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California) would be hosted by Raymond James Stadium on April 10 and 11, 2021. The event had

1955-523: The Miami metropolitan area . A 2021 estimate has the population of Hillsborough County at 1,512,070 people with a yearly growth rate of 1.34%, which itself is greater than the populations of 12 states according to their 2019 population estimates. Its county seat and largest city is Tampa . Hillsborough County is part of the Tampa– St. Petersburg – Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area . Hillsborough County

2040-538: The Super Bowl three times: Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, and Super Bowl LV in 2021. In Super Bowl LV, the Buccaneers became the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium, which they won 31–9. Like previous Super Bowls, the league treated Super Bowl LV as a neutral site game, with the pirate ship's Buccaneer-logo sails replaced with Super Bowl sails. The league also did not allow

2125-571: The United States men's national soccer team 's opening qualifying match against Antigua and Barbuda for the 2014 FIFA World Cup , which the United States won 3–1. On October 11, 2018, the Colombia men's national soccer team played against the United States men's national soccer team and won 4–2 to set the current attendance record of 38,361 for a soccer match at this stadium. The stadium hosted

2210-651: The Washington Post's list of the 2000 most challenging schools in America. The Tampa Public Library opened in 1917. The following notable libraries are part of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative: Several agencies provide law enforcement to the residents of Hillsborough County. They are all accredited and fully certified law enforcement agencies by the FDLE. The HCSO is

2295-524: The population spoke a language other than English as their primary language . According to the Secretary of State's office, Democrats are a plurality of registered voters in Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County tends to lean Democratic , having not been won by a Republican presidential candidate from 2004 until 2024. For the last quarter-century, it has been a powerful swing county in one of

2380-451: The 2022 season, some of the temporary seats used for Super Bowls and other special events were set up in the south end zone, bringing the capacity to 69,218. They were removed after the season, following Tom Brady ’s retirement. During construction, the facility was known as Tampa Community Stadium. In June 1998, prior to its opening, the naming rights were bought by St. Petersburg -based Raymond James Financial for $ 32.5 million in

2465-401: The 536,092 households, 29.74% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.25% were married couples living together, 14.76% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.69% were not families. About 27.12% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.96% (2.35% male and 5.61% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

2550-516: The Buccaneers and the Tampa Sports Authority reached an agreement to complete over $ 100 million in improvements and renovations to the stadium. The negotiations took months, and were extended by Bucs' lawyers demanding additional concessions after an agreement was near in September 2015. In the end, the upgrades were paid with at least $ 29 million of public money, with the remainder paid for by

2635-414: The Buccaneers score points, enter the other team's red zone , or win a home game, the replica cannons on the ship are fired off. The cannons fire once for each point scored. In addition, when the Buccaneers enter their opponent's red zone, the cannons fire once, and flags are hoisted and waved around the stadium. The cannons are also used during pre-game player introductions. During various times throughout

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2720-431: The Buccaneers to fire the ship's cannons during the game. The cannons are normally fired after every score by the Buccaneers and when their offense enters the red zone. The cannons were only fired during player introductions and were fired 31 times after the end of the game to represent the Buccaneers' 31 points. The Buccaneers were coincidentally the designated home team for Super Bowl LV, as the home team alternates between

2805-486: The Bucs in exchange for the right to play a home game at another site beginning in the 2018 season and other concessions. Renovations began in January 2016, and the first phase was complete in time for the 2016 football season. One of the most recognizable features of the stadium is a 103-foot (31 m), 43-ton steel-and-concrete replica pirate ship in the north end zone, making it stand out from other NFL stadiums. Each time

2890-493: The CITS proposal was still limited as election day neared, with the main reasons being a "negative reaction" to the Glazers' tactics and unwillingness to raise taxes to "help" owners who "overpaid" for an NFL team. In response, stadium proponents launched a "media blitz" of television and radio advertisements emphasizing the tax's potential impact on local schools and roads in an attempt to persuade residents who did not want to pay for

2975-627: The CSX Brooksville Subdivision . North of the expressway, the highway used to narrow back down to two lanes as it snaked through a rural setting to US 41 . This scene has since changed, as Dale Mabry between the Veterans and US 41 was widened to four lanes in 1996. Dale Mabry Highway is also one of the last roads in Hillsborough County to include concrete (driving surface) segments ( Hillsborough Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard are

3060-631: The Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in a rematch of the 2016 championship. With an attendance of 74,512, it was the largest crowd for a football game in stadium history. The three highest-attended college football bowl games that took place at Raymond James Stadium are as follows: The stadium was home to the former Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer and continues to periodically host other soccer matches due to its accommodating field dimensions. On June 8, 2012, it hosted

3145-647: The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. The highway has seen many changes throughout the years, including an extension to US 41 in Pasco County , and several major widening projects. During the 1960s/1970s, a portion of Dale Mabry Highway was to be converted into a limited-access highway between what was then I-4 (now I-275) to the Northwest Hillsborough Expressway (now Veterans Expressway's eastern terminus). The plan

3230-596: The TSA to sue the seating manufacturing company for the cost to replace the affected chairs in 2003. Initially, in May 2004, after testing samples of the seats, Hussey Seating did not find any cause for the fading, and thus, found no reason to replace the seats at the company's cost under the current 10–year warranty . After the TSA cited a portion of the warranty which did, in fact, state that Hussey would replace seats if any fading were to occur, Hussey president Tim Hussey admitted an error in

3315-445: The Tampa Sports Authority proposed passing ownership of the stadium to Hillsborough County to avoid having to pay millions of dollars in property taxes (the Bucs' lease agreement dictated that they not have to pay property taxes). However, Bucs had a right of refusal and refused to sign off on the plan unless the local government paid more of the cost for gameday security and increased the amount of (county-purchased) insurance coverage for

3400-420: The art, high visibility 9,600-square-foot (890 m ) video displays in both the north and south end zones along with the addition of a new 2,300-square-foot (210 m ) video tower in each corner. All together, the video displays cover more than 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m ), the third-largest video displays in the NFL. The original sound system and the stadium's luxury boxes were also upgraded. Before

3485-435: The average annual employment in Hillsborough County was 563,292. The percentages of total employment by industry were: In 2011, sales of all agricultural commodities produced in Hillsborough County were over $ 832,410,300. The largest crop by value was strawberries at over $ 388 million. Values of various crops included: Hillsborough County Public Schools operate the public schools in the county. Hillsborough County has

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3570-839: The board, and the administrative staff are responsible for the implementation of these policies. The board also serves as the Environmental Protection Commission. Individual board members serve on various other boards, authorities, and commissions such as the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa Bay Water, Aviation Authority, Expressway Authority, Sports Authority, Port Authority, Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Children's Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Council of Governments. Hillsborough County's discretionary sales tax rate increased from 1% to 2.5% in January 2019. When combined with

3655-437: The census of 2000, 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families resided in the county. The population density was 951 inhabitants per square mile (367/km ). The 425,962 housing units averaged 405 per square mile (156/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 75.17% White (63.3% Non-Hispanic White ), 14.96% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.66% from other races, and

3740-547: The charter. These amendments must be presented to voters for approval. One amendment was approved in November 2002, adding the position of County Internal Performance Auditor to the government structure. This position reports directly to the County Commission. The current administrator is Bonnie M. Wise, who took office on July 1, 2020, replacing Mike Merrill, who had served as administrator since 2010. Wise previously served as

3825-455: The corner billboards in the stadium were replaced with rotating trilon billboards. Those were subsequently replaced in 2016 with high visibility video displays. Raymond James Stadium boasts the second-best turf in the NFL, according to a 2009 biannual players' survey. In early 2016, the stadium was given an extensive facelift. The most notable improvement was the replacement of the 2,200-square-foot (200 m ) video displays with state of

3910-490: The cost of the new stadium if fans put down 50,000 deposits on 10–year season ticket commitments priced at $ 190 to $ 2500 per seat. Former Tampa mayor Bill Poe sued to halt the referendum, as he claimed that the tax violated the Florida state constitution 's ban on public support for private companies. Poe's objections were rejected, and plans for the vote were allowed to proceed. Public opinion polls indicated that support for

3995-453: The county administrator, appointed by county commissioners and charged by the charter to faithfully implement the powers of the board. The charter provides for a county attorney, to be hired by the county administrator with the advice and consent of the county commissioners. The charter contains a provision for a charter review board appointed by County Commissioners every five years to conduct a study of county government and propose amendments to

4080-402: The county and the welfare of its residents. These five countywide elected positions have specific responsibilities under the county charter: Under a charter ordinance that went into effect May 1985, county commissioners are directed to perform legislative functions of government by developing policy for the management of Hillsborough County. The county administrator, a professional appointed by

4165-486: The county in his 2010, 2016 and 2022 senatorial campaigns and Republican Governor Ron Desantis won it in his 2022 gubernatorial campaign after the county supported Democrats for the previous three gubernatorial elections since 2010. In 2008 , Barack Obama won the county by seven points, the first Democrat to capture the county since Bill Clinton 's re-election victory in 1996. Obama won Hillsborough again in 2012 over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney by roughly

4250-452: The county's deputy administrator and Tampa's chief financial officer. Of the seven members of the Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough County, four are elected from single-member districts, and three are elected county-wide. The board approves the county's operating and capital budgets and the county's capital-improvement program. It may take action on any programs for the improvement of

4335-503: The county. They, along with the Hillsborough County Public Schools Security Service officers, are known as school resource officers. Generally, deputies are assigned to schools outside of the incorporated cities and HCPSSS officers are assigned to schools within city limits. For extended services, other local agencies may be called in for support. Most crossing guards are employed in a unsworn capacity by

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4420-541: The effect of keeping Hillsborough County from being technically landlocked. The central portion of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is in Hillsborough County. So is Egmont Key , at the entrance to Tampa Bay ; this narrow strip of land separates Pinellas County from Manatee County. The northernmost tip of a spoil island just west of Port Manatee also lies in Hillsborough County. Hillsborough is home to Alafia River State Park and Hillsborough River state parks, and to

4505-494: The eighth-largest school district in the United States consisting of 206 schools (133 elementary schools, 42 middle schools, two K-8 schools, 27 traditional high schools, and four career centers, with 73 additional schools including charter, ESE, etc.). In 2013, 12 of Hillsborough County's 27 public high schools were ranked in Newsweek 's list of America's Best High Schools. In 2012 and 2013, all 27 public high schools were included on

4590-514: The establishment of a "Community Investment Tax", a 30-year half-cent sales tax increase that would pay for various public improvements along with a new stadium for the Bucs. The tax increase would have to be approved in a public referendum , which was scheduled for September. The "Community Investment Tax Stadium" (CITS) proposal was heavily promoted by the team along with several prominent local officials, and as part of intensive public relation campaign, Malcolm Glazer repeatedly promised to pay half

4675-494: The facility has been the site of three Super Bowls : XXXV in 2001, XLIII in 2009, and LV in 2021, in the third of which the Buccaneers became the first team in NFL history both to play and to win a Super Bowl on their home field. In college football , Raymond James Stadium is the home of the annual Tampa Bay Bowl (since 1999) and Gasparilla Bowl (since 2018), hosted the ACC Championship Game in 2008 and 2009, and

4760-468: 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 on board the ship to throw beads, T-shirts, and other free prizes to the spectators 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,

4845-414: The highway are as follows. The speed limit for most of the length is 45 mph (72 km/h). There is a 55 mph (89 km/h) speed limit on the segment north of State Road 568. The southern portion of Dale Mabry Highway between MacDill AFB and Gandy Boulevard (US 92, SR 600) is designated as State Road 573 for its entire length. This portion is also cosigned with unsigned SR 685 . This section

4930-627: The largest local law enforcement agency in Hillsborough County. Headquartered in the Ybor City District of Tampa, it is responsible for law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of the county. The county is divided into four districts, each containing multiple sectors identified with a letter (example: H – hotel sector, G – golf sector). The districts and sectors are cut to exclude areas covered by other local agencies. The school district uses two agencies for security. The sheriff's office employs deputies assigned to various schools throughout

5015-410: The loser only in 1992 and 2016. The southern portion of the county, around Tampa, is powerfully Democratic, while the northern and eastern portions are heavily Republican. On the statewide level, the county also tends to lean Democratic with Democrats Bill Nelson for senator and Andrew Gillum for governor both winning the county in the 2018 elections. However, Republican senator Marco Rubio did win

5100-426: The nation's most important swing states. It is part of the politically important I-4 Corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando , an area that historically decides most elections in Florida. Hillsborough was considered a bellwether county, voting for the statewide winner in every presidential election from 1964–2012. It has also voted for the winner of the presidency in every election since 1928 except twice, voting for

5185-540: The north end zone features a weathered, two–story fishing village facade , housing stadium concessions and restrooms . All areas of the stadium are ADA compliant. Temporary bleachers were erected in the end zones for Super Bowl XXXV , which set a then-record stadium attendance of 71,921. The stadium attendance record has since been surpassed by the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship , which also made use of temporary seating. Super Bowl XLIII and Super Bowl LV used temporary seating as well. In 2003,

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5270-459: The only jails in the county, other than juvenile detention facilities, the work release center, or holding cells located at multiple police stations and sheriff offices, all local agencies transport persons being arrested to one of the county jails. The sheriff's office also provides security and protective services at the county courthouses in Tampa. With a majority of transportation of inmates to and from

5355-425: The other major, non-interstate, arteries that have concrete segments). Originally, the concrete segment was continuous, stretching from MacDill AFB to just south of Hillsborough Ave. However, after numerous intersection modifications and widening over the years, some of the original areas have disappeared as they were replaced by asphalt surfaces. The existing concrete surfaces have since been rehabilitated, though there

5440-476: The parrot picks fans out of the crowd and talks to those passing by. The pirate ship's sails, which for NFL games usually shows Buccaneers logos and sponsors, are often changed to suit the event that it hosts. The two "Buc Vision" 2,200-square-foot (200 m ) Daktronics video displays were among the largest in the league when they were built. In 2016 they were replaced with 9,600-square-foot (890 m ), HD video boards in both end zones. 'Buccaneer Cove' in

5525-415: The plan within hours because it would reduce their revenue, and when local and state government officials did not agree on an alternative taxpayer-financed plan quickly enough for their liking, they threatened to move the Buccaneers elsewhere and were soon meeting with officials from several other cities to explore possible relocation sites. In early 1996, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County proposed

5610-416: The research and eventually would come to a $ 1.5 million agreement with the TSA to replace the problem seats. Reportedly, the seat-fading occurred due to a manufacturing error by Hussey, as a UV inhibitor – a sunscreen -like component for the plastic – was forgotten in the mixture used to create the seats. All of the problem seats were replaced by new, non–pink seats in the spring of 2006. In December 2015,

5695-583: The same margin. In 2016 , Donald Trump became the first Republican since Calvin Coolidge in 1924 to win a presidential election without carrying the county. Donald Trump broke the Democratic streak in the county in 2024, when he carried the county by a narrow majority. This reflects the general trend in Florida towards the Republican Party in recent elections. A home rule charter for Hillsborough County

5780-483: The sheriff's office. Plant City maintains its own police department and is the third-largest police agency in terms of sworn officers following HCSO and TPD. The agency provides law-enforcement services to the residents of Plant City and occasionally provides backup to HCSO, answering calls close to their jurisdiction. The TPD is the second-largest agency in the county. They serve the cities of Tampa, New Tampa, Port of Tampa, and other areas surrounding. With these being

5865-404: The stadium, the Buccaneers and the Tampa Sports Authority signed a lease in which local government paid the vast majority of operating and maintenance expenses while the franchise kept almost all of the proceeds from all events held there. Former Tampa mayor Bill Poe went back to court to challenge the legality of the lease, again citing the state's constitutional ban on using tax dollars to enrich

5950-416: The stadium. The dispute continued for months until December 2003, when the county legally declared the stadium a condominium and took ownership. As part of the change, the Bucs were given ownership of portions of the structure. To win the Bucs' approval, the county agreed to refund the team's resultant property tax payments annually. After a nearly two-year legal battle, the Tampa Sports Authority came to

6035-663: The stadium. The deal was extended for 10 years in 2006 and again in 2016, and the deal is currently set to expire in 2027. The stadium officially opened on September 20, 1998, when the Buccaneers defeated the Bears , 27–15. The stadium hosted its first Major League Soccer match on March 20, 1999, after the Tampa Bay Mutiny relocated from Houlihan's Stadium ; the Mutiny lost their first match at Raymond James 5–2 to D.C. United with 16,872 in attendance. The Mutiny folded after

6120-470: The state of Florida's 6%, the rate is 8.5%, the highest in Florida. The rate includes two surcharges approved by voter referendum in November 2018, 1% for transportation and 1/2% for schools. It is only collected on the first $ 5000 of any large purchase. In the early 20th century, Hillsborough's economy was predominantly based on cigar-making and agriculture. In 2012, Hillsborough had the second-largest agricultural output among Florida's counties. As of 2010,

6205-498: The temporary seating occurred on October 22, 2006 against Philadelphia (65,808). After the temporary seating was removed for 2023, the largest crowd has been 65,854 against Detroit on October 15, 2023. The three highest-attended South Florida Bulls home games at Raymond James Stadium are as follows: In 2017, Raymond James Stadium hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship , where

6290-408: The two conferences annually. The Buccaneers have hosted eight playoff games at Raymond James Stadium. The three highest-attended Buccaneers regular season home games at Raymond James Stadium are as follows. For the 2022 season, temporary bleachers were erected in the south endzone. The "Krewe's Nest" raised the stadium's capacity by approximately 3,600 additional seats. The largest crowd prior to

6375-547: The years, such as intersection improvements. The section of highway from Kennedy northward is six lanes with many businesses surrounding the highway. Until 2000, the section of highway between Gandy Boulevard and Euclid Ave was two lanes. Additionally a 1950s era overpass stood over a CSX rail corridor just north of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway . The overpass was torn down in the late 1990s and replaced with an at-grade railroad crossing as part of

6460-418: Was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11. The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 49,536, and for

6545-430: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.07. The age distribution was: 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males. The median income for

6630-468: Was approved by voters in a county-wide referendum held in September 1983, and the first county commissioners elected under this new charter took office on May 28, 1985. The charter divides the power of county government between legislative and executive branches. The Board of County Commissioners, which composes the legislative branch, sets overall policy by means of ordinances, resolutions, and motions. The executive powers of county government are vested in

6715-502: Was built at public expense as a replacement for Tampa Stadium and is known for the replica pirate ship located behind the seating area in the north end zone. Raymond James Financial , a financial service firm headquartered in the Tampa Bay area , has held the naming rights for the stadium for the stadium's entire existence. Besides serving as the home field for the Buccaneers and the Bulls,

6800-679: Was created on January 25, 1834, from Alachua and Monroe Counties, during the U.S. territorial period (1822–1845). The new county was named for Wills Hill , the Earl of Hillsborough , who served as British Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1768 to 1772. The County was created through efforts by Augustus Steele. The county's 1834 area was much larger and included eight other present-day counties: Charlotte County , DeSoto , Hardee , Manatee , Pasco , Pinellas , Polk , and Sarasota . The last significant change in Hillsborough County's borders

6885-474: Was inadequate to justify the record $ 192 million he paid for the NFL franchise and began lobbying local government for a replacement. A few months later, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County unveiled plans for a $ 168 million stadium that was to be paid for with a rental car surtax along with fees on items relating to stadium events, such as ticket surcharges and parking fees. However, the Glazer family rejected

6970-421: Was killed as well. Along the highway in the stadium and Northdale area are many businesses, more specifically car dealerships. The overall scene along Dale Mabry however, begins to shift from to a more suburban setting. The Busch/Gunn Interchange at the end of this stretch is also a remnant of the canceled expressway. The northern portion of Dale Mabry Highway between Busch Boulevard/Gunn Highway and U.S. Route 41

7055-434: Was scrapped after overpasses over Hillsborough Avenue and Busch Boulevard were built, relieving congestion at what would be very busy intersections. Dale Mabry Highway is typical of a roadway in a suburban sprawl setting. The road is a minimum four lanes wide along its entirety and in many places has wide medians, no sidewalks, and open drainage. Raymond James Stadium Former capacity : Raymond James Stadium

7140-580: Was the separation of its western section to create Pinellas County in 1911. On New Year's Day in 1914, the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line initiated the first scheduled commercial airline service in the world, from St. Petersburg to Tampa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,266 square miles (3,280 km ), of which 1,020 square miles (2,600 km ) are land and 246 square miles (640 km ) (19.4%) are covered by water. About 158.27 miles (254.71 km) of shoreline are on Tampa Bay. The county's unincorporated area

7225-497: Was the site of the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017 . Additionally, the stadium has hosted a wide variety of non-football events, including soccer matches, equestrian sports competitions, monster truck shows, and large concerts. It was also the site of WrestleMania 37 in April 2021. Immediately upon purchasing the Buccaneers in 1995, new owner Malcolm Glazer declared that twenty-eight year old Tampa Stadium

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