Super Bowl LV will be held at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa this year so get together with some friends and prepare to celebrate all of the festivities of this exciting game. Fans can celebrate at The Super Bowl Experience, an interactive football theme park created by the NFL and Host Committee starting in January to kick off this Super Bowl season. 

    “To celebrate the history of the NFL, Super Bowl Experience will offer fans the opportunity to virtually meet & greet with current NFL players and Legends, participate in games, and shop merchandise from NFL Shop presented by Visa,” according to the official website for the National Football League. 

   Fans can enjoy all of this for free by downloading the NFL OnePass app or at the walk-up station at Julian B. Lane with their app from Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 3-6. Other Super Bowl fan fests offer virtual autograph signings with NFL players, participatory games, youth football clinics, multiple merchandise stores, personalized digital photos, displays of the Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and even a virtual reality experience using the newest technology. 

   There are also many exciting features to look forward to on the day of the game, such as the infamous Super Bowl commercials and the halftime show, headlined by The Weeknd. 

   Also, Sarah Thomas is going to make history as the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl previously all done by men. The NFL officials are doing their best to make this game memorable for their fans given the current circumstances and state of the community. 

   “While things will look a little different this year, we’re committed to delivering the ultimate fan experience in the safest way possible,” is the official statement of the Super Bowl Host Committee. 

   They also encourage the participants to download the NFL OnePass app, not only to register for the festivities but stay up to date on the Super Bowl news, event information, games, and to use the virtual concierge to minimize human interaction. 

   However, the annual tradition of tailgating in the parking lot is not permitted this year, which comes as a huge disappointment to many fans, but will have to be enforced by the security staff of the Super Bowl to keep everyone safe and healthy so they can hold the Super Bowl. 

   Opening night will begin Feb. 1, 2021, virtually as the first public appearance of both the players and coaches that will be participating in the game, but the official game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs is on Feb. 7. 

   Tickets range from five thousand dollars to 24 thousand dollars and a quarter of the total tickets are designated for healthcare employees first with a discount as a way for the NFL to show their support for the workers and their continued effort to fight COVID-19. With all of the excitement over what’s to come, be sure to stay safe and take advantage of all of the fun opportunities while they are in Tampa. Go Bucs!!