Bucs fans set to cheer inside, outside Super Bowl stadium By FRED GOODALL 22 minutes ago

 

Bucs fans set to cheer inside, outside Super Bowl stadium

By FRED GOODALL22 minutes ago

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FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2013, file photo, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Warren Sapp smiles after being inducted in the Ring of Honor ceremony during halftime in an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins in Tampa, Fla. Hall of Famer Warren Sapp wishes the Buccaneers could pack the stands for the first Super Bowl played in a host team’s home stadium. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Warren Sapp wishes fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could pack the stands for the first Super Bowl played in a host team’s home stadium.

Because of coronavirus pandemic concerns, the NFL’s decision to limit capacity to 22,000 at Raymond James Stadium, and soaring prices for a limited number of tickets available for the league’s title game will prevent that.

All’s not lost, though, for an excited though sometimes fickle fan base embracing a bittersweet opportunity to enjoy the NFC champions on football’s biggest stage after being forced to follow the Tom Brady-led Bucs, as well as playoff runs by the region’s other two major pro franchises, from afar.