FAB 4. Bucs’ Camp Schedule Shows Membership Has Its Privileges

Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking the wrong time to limit fan access to the team by reducing the number of fully open practices to the general public? That might be one way to look at it.

Of the team’s 15 training camp practices, just six are open to the general public, beginning with the second camp practice, which will be the first session in full pads on Sunday, July 29. The first practice, which will be without pads, is similar to the team’s OTAs and mini-camp practices, and will only be seen by invited military local families as a tribute to nearby MacDill Air Force Base and the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Bucs will have five practices for “private groups.” Some will be for Tampa Bay’s sponsors and advertising partners, which is good business, and a practice or two will likely be for family and friends of the players and the organization. With practice viewing capacity capped at 3,500, especially in the indoor practice facility, which will be utilized this summer, making sure those VIPs can comfortably view practice is understandably paramount.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

A limited number of season pass members – those early birds who proactively request free tickets from the team, which is mandatory for all who wish to view a practice, even those open to the general public – will have access to a mock game during training camp on Thursday, August 2. This will be a full-padded scrimmage that will encompass the entire practice.

That sounds cool, and being a season pass member appears to have its privileges. There will also be two private practices – one each for Hall of Fame Club members and the other for luxury suite members – on August 3 and August 6, respectively. Again, membership has its privileges.

“We are excited about the unprecedented level of access that our fans will enjoy as they get even closer to the action this year at training camp. The new, air-conditioned indoor practice facility will provide a comfortable viewing experience and create an unmatched atmosphere for those practices open to the general public,” said Buccaneers chief operating officer Brian Ford. “We are always focused on providing memorable experiences for our fans and this year’s training camp offerings will be one of the most entertaining to date.”

By limiting the number of training camp practices open to the general public that may or may not have season passes, club seats or a luxury suite, the team is creating value for its members, and that is worth noting. It’s also worth noting that the only way to limit the number of enemy jerseys at the stadium from September through December, especially in the lower bowl, is for Bucs fans to buy tickets and go to the games.

I’m not here to shill season tickets or club seats for the Bucs. That’s not my job. The team does advertise tickets on PewterReport.com, and in full disclosure our company does have a luxury suite at the stadium in which we host our advertising partners. But whether or not you choose to pay for individual tickets or buy season passes has nothing to do with PewterReport.com or our company’s bottom line.

I’ll just point out that the Bucs are wisely creating value for their advertising partners, season pass members, club seat and luxury suite members by giving those paying customers access to more practices than fans who don’t. That’s just good business practice.

Bucs DE Vinny Curry – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I don’t think it’s necessarily the amount of open practices that will suddenly make fans want to sign up for season passes or buy individual tickets to more home games, and I think the team realizes that, too. There will be plenty of “free football” for the “free football crowd.” There will be six camp practices to attend, and all 20 games, including the preseason, will be on television for all to see – despite Raymond James Stadium not selling out every home game.

If you are among those still chapped over less open practices for the general public, keep in mind that the Bucs will have two joint practices in Nashville, Tenn. with the Tennessee Titans on August 15-16.

In the past, the Bucs have hosted some of their preseason opponents at One Buccaneer Place, including Cleveland a few years ago and New England under the Greg Schiano regime. So that’s two more practices that would have been opened to the general public that are unavailable because the Bucs will be traveling to Tennessee for its second preseason game. That would have pushed the number of practices open to the general public to eight.

The reason why Tampa Bay had to travel to practice against Jacksonville last year and is traveling to practice against Tennessee this year is due to stadium renovations. Last year, the Bucs renovated the west club section of the stadium and asked the league for two away games to start the preseason. A similar request was made this year to allow construction of the east club stadium to be completed prior to Week 3 of the preseason, which will be a home game against Detroit.

The Bucs have a long way to go in terms of filling up the stadium with Tampa Bay fans, and the best way the team can do that is by increasing its base of season ticket holders. Last year’s disappointing 5-11 record probably isn’t helping much. Limiting the number of some open training camp practices might not be helping, but it’s probably not hurting the team’s efforts to recruit more season pass members, either.

Yet maybe having access to that Bucs vs. Bucs mock game scrimmage on August 2 might push some fans who buy a lot of individual game tickets to go all-in and plunk down for season passes and some of the discounts and perks that come with it.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But what’s really going to drive membership and season pass sales will be one thing: winning.

Ford and the team’s ticketing department and marketing staff can only do so much.

The Bucs actually had a winless season at home in 2014. Tampa Bay won three home games the next year, and five in 2016 before being the victor in four contests last season.

Sure, home games against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are tough, as are the games against NFC South opponents. But going 3-2 in those contests isn’t out of the realm of possibility, and getting three wins against Cleveland, Washington and San Francisco shouldn’t be out of the question.

A 6-2 record at home should get Tampa Bay in the playoffs in most years (although it didn’t in 2008). More home wins equal more Bucs season pass members equal more open practices for those select fans in the summer. Now it’s time for this talent-laden team to do its part and live up to its potential by putting together a winning season – and a long-awaited trip to the playoffs.

If you win, they will come.

It all begins on July 29. A free digital ticket – available on the team’s website at www.Buccaneers .com – will be required for entry to all practice sessions.