Raymond James Stadium, the longtime home of the Bucs, opened in 1998 and though there have been regular renovation projects and improvements made over the last 27 years, it may soon be time for some more work. New stadiums are popping up all around the NFL, while other teams are completing sizable renovations to improve. So, will “Ray Jay” soon get a significant facelift?

Bucs owner and co-chairman Joel Glazer Photo by: Bailey Adams/PR

That was a topic Bucs owner and co-chairman Joel Glazer was asked about when meeting with the media Tuesday at the 2025 NFL Annual Meeting at The Breakers in West Palm Beach. While Glazer didn’t have anything overly groundbreaking to say on the subject of Raymond James Stadium renovations, he did say it’s a constant discussion point among the Glazer Family and the organization’s leadership group.

“That’s something you’re always looking at because the fan experience is so important in the NFL – in all sports,” Glazer said. “So, we’re constantly looking at the stadium, constantly looking at how we can improve it. You know, we did stuff, what, six years ago? But now it’s six years later and there’s been a lot of new stadiums built, a lot of different renovations done, some advances.

“So, we’re currently looking at all those types of things and evaluating it. There will be a time and a place. We’ll always want to improve the stadium and keep it up to the most competitive standards.”

Of course, when that time comes and the Glazers and the Bucs are at that place, they’ll have to work with Hillsborough County, the Tampa Sports Authority and local leaders to iron everything out. Glazer dismissed the idea that there hasn’t been any communication between the organization and the county before diving further into the idea of renovating Raymond James Stadium.

“I’ve heard people say there’s been no communication. That’s actually not very accurate,” Glazer said. “We’re going through a phase right now where we’re assessing the stadium and what might be needed, and I know they’re assessing the stadium and what might be needed, and once both of us are done with our assessments, then we come together and talk about it and work through things. We’ve always had an excellent relationship with everybody at the TSA. They’ve been great, they do a great job with Hillsborough County and that’s the process that’s happening right now.

“I’ve heard that a time or two. I always kind of raise my eyebrow. It’s just patiently working through what everybody has to do. It’s such an important part of the community, the other events that come to town… My God, Taylor Swift came to town and all the concerts we have. So, there’s multiple people that are affected by that, not just us. Tourism and everything like that. We all have got to make sure we come together and meet the needs of what’s necessary.”

Bucs Want To Attract More Super Bowls To Raymond James Stadium

Raymond James Stadium Photo by: USA Today

Since Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998, it has played host to three Super Bowls. The first was in 2001, when the Ravens capped off the 2000 season with a 34-7 win over the Giants. The Super Bowl then returned in 2009 as the Steelers captured the Lombardi Trophy in a thrilling win over the Cardinals to end the 2008 season.

The third and most recent instance of Tampa hosting the Super Bowl was of course when the Bucs finished off the 2020 season by winning the Lombardi Trophy on their home field. Tampa Bay was the first team to accomplish that feat, doing so with a 31-9 win over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Raymond James Stadium was awarded Super Bowl LV as a result of SoFi Stadium’s construction delays, and as of right now, there are no plans for the NFL’s biggest game to return to “The New Sombrero,” as the legendary Chris Berman calls it.

So, when asked whether some land south of Raymond James Stadium would be considered “off limits” as the Tampa Bay Rays potentially search for a new home on the Tampa side of things, Joel Glazer turned the focus back to the Bucs and their desire to host another Super Bowl in the future.

“In our area, we’re always looking at ways to improve everything around us, improve the community,” Glazer said. “Our focus right now is the Buccaneers and what needs to happen there so we can bring Super Bowls and everything there. And that’s what we’re working toward.

“You know, these are big projects and there’s a lot of them happening right now in the NFL. Kind of take a little from everybody. A lot have happened over the last 5-10 years. And we’re able to look at everybody, take the best of everything and incorporate that into some of our thoughts moving forward.”

Could The Bucs Seek The Possibility Of A New Stadium?

Bucs Pirate Ship – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While all of the stadium talk from Joel Glazer on Tuesday centered on renovations to the Bucs’ current home, could the organization soon face the need for a completely new stadium?

The team’s lease at Ray Jay is set to expire in 2028, at which point the stadium will be 30 years old. Even now, Tampa Bay’s home stadium is tied with Baltimore’s for the 10th-oldest in the league.

As Glazer said Tuesday afternoon at The Breakers resort in West Palm Beach, there have been a lot of stadium projects over the last decade or so, and new stadiums are popping up all the time.

Massive renovations are one thing. The money and logistics that go into a brand-new stadium is another. The Rays are no strangers to that reality, and as much as they’re up against it in terms of securing a future home, time is ticking on the Bucs’ lease at Raymond James Stadium, too. Big decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later.

It’s obviously been difficult for the Rays to get the monetary support they need from the Tampa side of the Bay over the years, and perhaps that’s because city and county leaders have been taking the Bucs’ future needs into consideration. Whatever the case may be, as the franchise celebrates its 50th season in 2025, talk of stadium upgrades or even a new stadium will loom over the next couple of years.