Bucs-Cowboys will include pregame musical event in Tampa

TAMPA — Tom Brady and Dak Prescott may be the Week 1 headliners when the Bucs and Cowboys play Sept. 9 at Raymond James Stadium. But they’ll have some musical support in celebration of the 102nd NFL season.

The league is working with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission on a kickoff musical event and other activities surrounding the game, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday.

The first kickoff event was held in Times Square in 2002, five days prior to the anniversary of 9/11. The next year, it was held on the National Mall in Washington D.C. It’s unclear where the event in Tampa Bay will be located, but Curtis Hixon Park and the Riverwalk would seem to be good possibilities.

Since 2004, the city of the Super Bowl champion has hosted the kickoff game and the league has brought major entertainment acts. The exception was when the Ravens visited Denver after winning the Super Bowl due to a conflict with the Orioles.

This year, the NFL will be working with Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins and his staff.

“We’re looking forward to continue to work with Rob and his crew again,” McCarthy said. “We are working on plans on details where the kickoff musical event would take place. We also intend to hold community events leading up to the kickoff game.”

Previous acts have included Shawn Mendes, Meek Mill, Flo Rida, Dierks Bentley, Train, Soundgarden, Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Kid Rock, Taylor Swift, Dave Matthews Band, Tim McGraw, the Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith and more.

“It’s a pretty amazing group of performers over the years and locations‚” McCarthy said. “It’s also a major marketing push in conjunction with our sponsors.”

Higgins tweeted: “We could not be more excited to get a chance to work with our great partners at the NFL on NFL Kickoff.”

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