The best family event on Thanksgiving weekend this year is taking place on a football field. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Arizona Cardinals on November 30, and thanks to great prices, a Ring of Honor induction ceremony, and expected beautiful weather, it may be the best game of the year to catch the Bucs in action at Raymond James Stadium.
Right now, you can find tickets to the major NFC matchup for as low as $75, with plenty of seats available next to each other. It’s one of the convenient annual quirks of the calendar that games on holiday weekends are a little easier to get into. Plus, the November 30 game will feature a ceremony at halftime to induct Tampa Bay legend Simeon Rice in the Bucs Ring of Honor.
Thanksgiving Day is for watching football at home with food and loved ones, of course. But Thanksgiving Sunday? That’s the time to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and be right in the middle of the action. For individuals and groups alike, the game against the Cardinals is the perfect opportunity to catch the Bucs live and in person without breaking the bank.
Photo By Dave Pullis/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
And if you really feel like going all out for the crew, it’s also a great day to take advantage of some of the team’s gameday experiences. The all-inclusive pre-game veranda tailgate gets the day started right, or the all-inclusive experience at The Patio in the stadium during the game ensures you never wait in a line and get all the food and drink you could ever want. You don’t have to buy a special ticket for these – just add it on to whatever ticket you already have. See more gameday upgrades here.
If you have the full extended family this year, we also recommend checking out the group packages for parties of 10 or more. In addition to being budget-friendly, it also opens up access to some really cool experiences.
Dine on local chef specialties at Ray Jay
If you’re like us, however, a huge part of the fun at a Bucs game is exploring the food and drink at Raymond James. We’ve been to dozens of pro and college stadiums across the country, and few do it better than the Bucs. We’ve been especially impressed with their Tampa Bay Chef Series this year. Each game, a different star chef in the area has a specialty creation showcased at concessions throughout the stadium.
The Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich at the 49ers game, made by Chef Rob Reinsmith of Wild Child fame, may be one of the best sandwiches we’ve had anywhere. For the Cardinals game, Chef Suz Lara of Tampa’s LARA is making her beloved Picadillo Tartar: raw beef tartar with sofrito, smoked olives, capers, golden raisin mostarda, and Cuban bread crostini. The game is worth it for that alone. We also won’t say no to the $6 beers in pre-game.
Photo By Yvonne Gougelet/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Of course, the football is exciting, too. The Bucs are in the thick of playoff positioning, which makes this NFC matchup against Arizona one of the biggest games of the year regardless of how much Picadillo Tartar you take down. The team is getting healthier, too, meaning the star power will be on display alongside Baker Mayfield.
Tickets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Arizona Cardinals are available here. Kickoff is at 1 pm on Sunday, November 30.