Bucs’ training camp to remain closed to general public
For the second straight season, ongoing health and safety protocols will forbid the general public from watching the Bucs’ preseason training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.
But a few prioritized fans will get an extended look when the 2021 camp commences July 25.
In what Bucs chief operating officer Brian Ford called a “ramp-up” to the regular season, the team announced Thursday that 16 of the training camp workouts will be open to a limited number of season pass members, luxury suite owners, stadium club members, premium seat holders and sponsors.
Roughly 2,000 observers will be allowed per practice, Ford said. They will be prioritized on a first-come, first-serve basis. Non-vaccinated observers will be required to wear a mask; fans will be kept at least 20 feet from players and staffers.
Accommodating the general public wasn’t realistic, Ford added, when considering many season-pass members won’t even get the opportunity to watch a workout with the capped practice attendance.
“We tried to stretch it and make it as many days as possible, and we got up to 16 days,” Ford said Thursday, one week after the club announced all season tickets have been sold for 2021.
“We’re not even going to be able to get all of our season-pass members in for a training camp practice, and it’s just based on this ramp-up. So we are going to do it based on tenure, and the support is overwhelming.
“We want to get back (to normal), but we’ve got to use training camp as a ramp-up to get into the season.”
Additionally, a single practice will be open to each of three select groups.
Military personnel will get a viewing opportunity on Aug. 5 (“Military Day”), while the team’s female-focused fan club (”Women of Red”) will be welcome the following day. Additionally, the Bucs will host their Special Olympics Day on Aug. 9. Capacity will be limited to around 2,000 each of those days also, Ford said.
A digital ticket — available through the Ticketmaster account manager for all members — will be required for entry to practice sessions for all observers except those attending on Military Day and Special Olympics Day. Each ticket includes a $5 reservation fee, with proceeds going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation.
All 16 of the practices will be held in the morning, starting at 8:30 daily. Covered bleacher seating will be provided.
The Bucs’ first practice in pads is July 31. They’ll also host joint practices with the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 17 and 18.
“It’s going to be different. There’s not going to be the fan-player interaction that we’ve had,” Ford said.
“We’re coming out of this pandemic and we’ve learned from it. ... We want to get back to where we were, but we want to do it in a gradual approach.”
2021 Bucs training camp dates
All workouts start at 8:30 a.m. Invited observers in parentheses
July 25 (Season pass members)
July 26 (Stadium club members)
July 27 (Season pass members)
July 28 (Season pass members)
July 30 (Season pass members)
July 31 (Season pass members)
Aug. 1 (Season pass members)
Aug. 3 (Season pass members)
Aug. 5 (Military Day)
Aug. 6 (Women of Red)
Aug. 7 (Stadium club members)
Aug. 9 (Special Olympics/Community Day)
Aug. 10 (Stadium club members)
Aug. 11 (Season pass members)
Aug. 17 (Stadium club members)*
Aug. 18 (Season pass members)*
*Joint practices with Tennessee Titans
• • •
Sign up for the Bucs RedZone newsletter to get updates and analysis on the latest team and NFL news from Bucs beat writer Joey Knight.
Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.
