Whether you call them the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or simply call them the Bucs, this professional soccer team knows how to wow the crowd. This NFL squad is a member of the NFC southern division. They became an official NFL team in 1976 and first played with the western division of the American Football Conference. Florida fans sent the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ticket sales soaring when they were first published. Even when the team suffered 26 defeats, the fan support did not falter. The Tampa Bay Bucs honored this trust by being strong contenders for the title and in 2002 they took home the Super Bowl XXXVII crown.
The Beginning of Buccaneers from Tampa Bay
In 1976 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became an NFL team along with the Seattle Seahawks. A year later they moved from the AFC West division to NFC Central and Seattle took over their AFC slot. This loyalty switch is part of the expansion guidelines that allow the two new teams to play against each other twice and against every other NFL team once in just the first two years.
Tom McCloskey was originally given the Tampa Bay expansion franchise but lost it due to financial setbacks. The Tampa Bay franchise then ended up with a tax attorney named Hugh Culverhouse. The team’s name honors Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival and is also a testament to the legendary pirate spirit of the area.
Today the team plays at the upgraded Tampa Stadium which houses nearly 73,000 fans. Football fever is rampant among fans at Sunshine State, and since opening day the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have sold a record number of tickets. This allows the team to grow even with 2 additional professional football teams residing in the same southern state.
History Makes Moments for the Tampa Bay Football Team
The Buccaneers had a 0-26 record during their first 2 years playing, but in 1979 things started to show some improvement. Their 5 consecutive wins at the start of the 1979 season made them desperately need the respect and admiration of other teams. Fans were overjoyed and soon all available Tampa Bay Buccaneers tickets were claimed by people who wanted to enjoy the championship chase.
The team was even selected by Sports Illustrated for magazine cover photos and feature stories. Anticipating a playoff bid, the Bucs management used STP oil on the goalposts to keep from being ousted by overzealous fans. Tampa Bay won against the Kansas City Chiefs 1-13 and the crowd filled the field. With a 10-6 record the Buccaneers now have a winning season to be proud of and they continue to win the Central Division.
From the Edge of Failure to Extraordinary Success
1996 marked many changes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it began with the death of Culverhouse. Despite the record sales of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was revealed that the organization was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The team changed hands and was bought by Malcolm Glazer for a record amount of $192 million dollars. The Glazers and their family are committed to turning the Bucs into a winning proposition and this is turning the tide for Tampa’s mighty football organization.
The Buccaneers had a good chance in the playoffs in 2008 and were 9-3 with just 4 games remaining in their regular schedule when things got rocky. The announcement that defense coordinator Monte Kiffin would be heading to the University of Tennessee came in early December and the Bucs lost their momentum and last 4 games. This kept them out of the fight for a playoff spot. In 2009 the team was looking for a chance to get back on track and their chances for a championship bid are looking good. Tampa Bay Buccaneers tickets are already scarce as fans anticipate another chance at the elusive Super Bowl crown.