Buccaneers stars just found themselves in a bit of a Freaky Friday situation with their next door neighbors
Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs walked into the Stadium Series with Lightning players wearing Bucs uniforms.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t playing in February, but you’ll still see players in Creamsicle uniforms around Tampa Bay.
The Stadium Series is in town, just after Gasparilla on the water. The NHL is allowing the Tampa Bay Lightning to host a hockey game at the Bucs’ stadium. They’re playing the Boston Bruins, who are one of the league’s best, as are the Lightning. The main pre-game story, though, is how the hockey players were dressed.
The Lightning entered the game dressed head-to-toe in Creamsicle uniforms, including pads and helmets, imitating the Buccaneers’ classic look. Leading the way were Bucs stars Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs, but this time they wore Lightning gear, showing a playful swap of team identities. Meanwhile, the Bruins arrived dressed as Patriots players, referencing their hometown NFL team, the New England Patriots, who are set to play in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Stadium Series showed off the fun of Gasparilla weekend
Fans embraced the energy; whether dressed as patriots or pirates, the timing of the Stadium Series during Gasparilla weekend was perfect. This synergy allowed the festivities to reach a whole new level.
Before the game, as starting lineups were announced, pirates ran onto the field. A map was laid out around the ice rink. Fireworks shot out near the pirate ship while the lineups were announced. This really sealed the deal on Raymond James Stadium going all out.
“The most important thing about the outdoor games is the connection it makes with our fans,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said regarding the Stadium Series being in Tampa Bay.
“We do it for our fans. Our players love it. We’ve done 44 outdoor games now. This one is going to be a little more challenging. The one in Miami, we had the dome to protect us during the put-together phase, but this one, we’re going to build our own protective unit and have to take it down on game day. I think we have the resources, the technology, the bright people to do it, and I think it’s going to be a truly fun day.”
Ultimately, Tampa didn’t just host the event—it embraced it fully, with Buccaneers players joining in the fun.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers News
Baker Mayfield pushes Bucs into making a decision for his new offensive coordinator
Baker Mayfield got the guy he wanted.
