TAMPA, Fla. — Tailgaters in RVs and cars started filling the lots surrounding Raymond James Stadium early this weekend, as they gear up for a long day of Super Bowl celebrations come Sunday.
“I’m here to see the Bucs win,” said Tammy Vickers, a tailgater from Fort Myers.
Vickers and her family members parked their RVs in a lot just east of the stadium, on Josie Rodriguez's property. Rodriguez typically sells spots on her property before every home game, but that hasn't been the case this year, as several home games didn't allow fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some of the people that have been coming here for years, I’ve gotten to be very close to and some of them, they’re almost like family I know them so well,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is just happy to have tailgaters back to celebrate with.
And while they may not be watching the big game from inside the stadium, these tailgaters believe they've got the best seats outside the stadium.
“Ten second delay, you hear what’s going on here, you’re looking at a TV cause you know what’s gonna happen,” said Rey Cabazos, a tailgater from Tampa.
As of Saturday evening, many of the lots surrounding the stadium were only about half full, but property owners in the area expect that will all change by tomorrow.
