I set the alarm for eight so I would have time for breakfast and a swim before heading off to the stadium. Not like a Swedish hotel buffet but it was something to fill my stomach with at least. Put on the bathing shorts and went down to the beach. Unfortunately, today started off very cloudy so I thought I would just swim around for a bit so I could check off the Mexican Gulf on the list and then continue my day.
When I was in the water a guy 20 meters away called on me and told me that he saw a couple of rays and they were headed towards me and I should look out. We talked for a bit and I got anxious about the rays so I left the water after a while. The weather didn’t call for more bathing anyway. I took the pictures and headed back to the hotel.
I got into the car and left for Hard Rock Café to get a magnet for Peter. On the way I got stuck at a bridge opening.
When I arrived at the location I found out it was a huge complex with a hotel and a large casino.
Walked around for a bit and the casino floors (I found at least two) were probably 100 by 100 meters, filled with different machines and card tables. Lots of people sitting at the machines, drinking, smoking, and pushing the buttons, but very few looked like they were having fun.
After getting the magnet I found the actual Hard Rock restaurant and had myself a burger. Walked around a bit more and then got back into the car and headed towards Raymond James Stadium where I would watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting “my” Green Bay Packers. I had prepaid for parking and when I found my lot (#14) it was very well organized with lots of staff directing traffic to make it as compact as possible. Walked around for an hour, looking at the different tailgaters, a pirate ship and took a lap around the stadium.
The gates to the stadium opened at 15:00 sharp and it were already quite long lines to the security checkpoints. Got in rather quick anyway and took a lap inside the stadium as well before heading up to 300-level where I had my seat. As there are in American stadiums, there were a lot of different food stands, places that sold beer and water. Toilets are spacious and plenty. I would also like to point out that there were excellent signs and information everywhere. Probably one of the best experience I’ve regarding that aspect. There were even two “sun screen”-stations, which probably was necessary since it’s outside and no roof. I got lucky and sat on the west side, meaning that I got shadow about half an hour into the game.
Unfortunatly they have imported (or exported to Europe?) the thing of taking the cap off bottles and keep them. Constantly afraid of tipping the tall bottle over and loosing the expensive water, $7 for one litre.
Even though I would have preferred to sit in the lower section, I was happy with my seat. Hard to spot details on the sideline but you could track the game really well. Ecxept for one right beside me I was surrounded by Buccs-fans. Though there were plenty of Packer-fans in the stands. In Sweden/Europe you often have a standing/sining section with away fans where they can do their chants organized. Here someone just starts with “Go Pack Go” and then more and more follow. And since there were so many Packer-fans attending, you could her the chant around the stadium at several occasions. Magic!
Apparently they have expanded the capacity at the stadium by building new stands south of the playing field (on my right side). Tonight were a new record in attendance, such things is always nice to be a part of.
The game was exciting, nerv-wrecking, sometimes sloppy, all the way til the end. You can never count out Tom Brady, but they failed their two-point-conversion so Packers could end the game with taking a knee and win by 12-14.
After the game, I sat back for a while in the stands, knowing the traffic would be terrible so I could rather soak in the win instead of sitting in a car swearing about the queues. Some pictures, some nods, fistbumps and high-fives and just happiness.
On my way out however, I saw the busses I assume takes the Packers players and staff to the airport. A total of six busses indicates how big these teams and organizations are. A Swedish hockey- or soccer team only require one bus.
I got back to the hotel roughly two hours after the game ended. The drive should take about 45 minutes. I sat down in the bar to write this and first I spoke with two people from the Netherlands and then two swedes. The latter were on a seven week trip, driving through the USA. Started in California and was now coming to an end down in Miami. We exchanged some tips because they just came from Orlando, and I, as you know, had just been in Miami. The world is a small place.
Tomorrow I’m heading off to Orlando, while I’m keeping an eye on the hurricane Ian which might hit Florida in the upcoming days. Following local news and will check with the hotel tomorrow what I can do to be prepared. But first, I need some sleep.
#GoPackGo
