Be Prepared For Heavy Traffic Thursday As Bucs Take On Cowboys

TAMPA, FL — A sold-out crowd is expected to begin arriving at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday afternoon for the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, the first game of the NFL season.

Drivers and pedestrians alike are reminded to stay alert and allow for extra travel time. Those not attending the game are encouraged to travel on alternate routes.

The city of Tampa anticipates heavy traffic on the main roads around the stadium including Dale Mabry Highway, Himes Avenue, Columbus Drive and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Tom McEwen Boulevard (aka Tampa Bay Boulevard) will be closed between Dale Mabry and Himes Avenue.

Parking lots at Raymond James Stadium will open at 4:45 p.m. Recreation vehicles can park in Lot 14 but no overnight parking is permitted.

• Gates for the suites/clubs will open at 5:45 p.m.
• All other gates will open at 6:45 p.m.
• Kick-off is at 8:20 p.m.

Additionally, traffic is expected to be heavy in downtown Tampa on Thursday for the NFL Kickoff Experience at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park on North Boulevard.

Barricades and signs will be posted to assist with traffic flow.

The northbound outside lane on North Boulevard from West Cypress Street and West Green Street to West Laurel Street between North Boulevard and Doyle Carlton Drive will be closed from Wednesday at 7 p.m. to Friday at 5 a.m.

Event parking for the NFL Kickoff Experience can be found at the Centro Ybor and Palm Avenue garages for $1 an hour until 6 p.m. or $10 all day after 6 p.m. Then take the streetcar to downtown Tampa.

Parking will also be available in the Royal Regional Lot, Crosstown Lots, Convention Center and William F. Poe garages for $10 to $20 all day, or the Fort Brooke and Pam Iorio garages for $2 an hour.

A limited number of handicapped-accessible spaces will be available on the Southside of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and at all public parking facilities. A vehicle properly displaying a disabled parking permit is allowed a maximum of four hours at no charge at on-street parking meters (must activate at pay station)

Bicycle parking is available at the Fort Brooke, Pam Iorio and William F. Poe garages.