Kelly Hayes
The NFL Super Bowl experience is sold out. But, there’s still plenty going on around Tampa Bay to celebrate this year’s historic game, the first-ever championship to feature the home team.
Here are several ideas from the Tampa Downtown Partnership on how to celebrate the Super Bowl:
Enjoy the water.
The Hillsborough River will be open and bustling with views of Super Bowl festivities downtown. The city recommends several water outing activities, including the Riverwalk Boating Company, Tampa Bay Water Bike Co., Kraken Cycle Boats, Tampa Bay Fun Boat and more.
Watch live broadcasts.
CBS Sports will be broadcasting live from Tampa’s Armature Works Pier and West Lot in the days leading up to the Super Bowl through the big game. Visitors can watch the broadcast from behind the fence line while the CBS announcers and guests go live.
Capture the moment.
Tampa Bay has set up a variety of photo ops across the city to celebrate Super Bowl LV. Snap a pic in front of the large #LV sign at Curtis Hixon Park or capture a photo with the oversized football helmet at the Riverwalk Technology Village.
Dine out, safely.
The Tampa Bay area is full of safe, socially distanced restaurants and bars with plenty of outdoor space. The Tampa Downtown Partnership recommends enjoying a drink at Four Green Fields in Curtis Hixon Park or checking out the boats and yachts parked along the river for the Super Bowl at Anchor and Brine at Tampa Marriott Water Street. More dining locations are listed here.
Enjoy fireworks and laser light shows.
Watch the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship in downtown from the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday night for a celebration filled with fireworks and a laser light show. The shows will take place at 6:55 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:55 p.m. and 9:55 p.m. Also, make sure to check out the pirate ship itself, which will be covered with 150 custom flags representing all 32 NFL teams.
Take a tour of Tampa’s murals.
Tampa’s downtown features more than 55 vibrant and colorful murals. Take a stroll through downtown to view and capture the artwork. Take a photo and post using the hashtag #TampasDowntown to showcase the artwork. Here’s a guide to the murals.
While enjoying the Super Bowl festivities, remember that masks and social distancing are required. Mayor Jane Castor has issued an executive order (2021-07) that identifies the locations within the city as “Event Zones” and “Entertainment Districts” where masks are required, including outside.
The “Event Zones” include areas of downtown Tampa and the area surrounding Raymond James Stadium. The “Entertainment Districts” encompass the Ybor City Historic District, the South Howard Commercial Overlay District, the Central Business District and the Channel District.
