Bucs To Play Bears At Home — In England
April 12th, 2011
In what can’t make any Bucs fan happy, unless he or she is a Euro stuck in soccer-mad Europe, the Bucs will play another home game in England in 2011. This time it’s against the bears.
News broke on AM 1000 in Chicago this afternoon, JoeBucsFan.com just confirmed with the station, and moments ago was reported by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Well, at least that’s one game sure to not be blacked out.
How could this not be a disadvantage for the Bucs? Why would Team Glazer approve such a thing when the team is a serious contender? Surely the NFL didn’t force their hand. The Bucs just played a “home game” there in 2009.
Frankly, Joe is disgusted. One less game for the home fans to enjoy.
April 12th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
april fools?
April 12th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Is this gonna be the game vs the Bears? (just guessing since you mentioned it was reported by AM 1000 in Chicago). If so, it may be a moot point with all the jackoff Bear fans that live in Tampa.
April 12th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
I’m sorry. I’m not a soccer-mad european and i’m really excited about this. If it’s true. We’re a lot of people out of there that cares about NFL.
April 12th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I smell refund!!!
April 12th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
C’mon Lockout!!!
April 12th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
They better adjust my season ticket price down $99 per ticket for that game.
April 12th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
LaughingCat,
I was going to say the same thing. I was struggling to find a way to pay for my season tickets this year. As much as I’ll be upset about not being able to take my son to the game, I’ll be happy to hopefully be getting a check back from the Bucs.
April 12th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Bucs spokesman Jonathan Grella referring all questions on this topic to the NFL office. Regular-season sked released later this month
this from rick stroud
April 12th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
That would make one LESS tour to Ft. Meyers and one solid sell-out, revenue increasing game for the Bucs. I am sure they will be paid handsomely for this agreement.
April 12th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Geez I’m so tired of this crap..we lose another damn home gm..and for u season tix holders they will adjust the price of the season but I doubt highly even if u don’t have a deposit that they won’t be sending u a check for a refund prob roll it over..I understand it’s good for the gm and great as a brand for the Bucs but really sucks as an avid fan w season tixs..
April 12th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Sucks for the season ticket holders. Some sort of concession should be made to them. Why not do these overseas games during the preseason?
April 12th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
So for 2 of the last 3 years the Bucs have had 7 home games while every one of our NFC South opponents has gotten 8 along with nearly every other team in the league………..what a freaking joke
April 12th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
this is complete BS. Sounds great to play an NFC Title game team on a neutral field instead of at home.
April 12th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I get nervous anytime they fly overseas. Years ago, I use to fly to europe often enough…but these days I get nervous even thinking about it.
And it certainly is not fair to the season ticket holders.
That said…the Bucs do have a bunch of fans over there…I think, since it’s going to happen either way, the Bucs should where the orange on the trip…give those loyal fans a treat.
April 12th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Pete-
It’s not just about the fans….it’s about the significant competitive disadvantage this means for the Bucs
April 12th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
The bucs never had home field advantage to start with… im Talib will be on his best behaviour
April 12th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
@CreamsicleBananaHammock
Wouldn’t the same be true of the Bears?
April 12th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
I actually like this. No matter what it gets televised. and i never get to watch my bucs since i dont live in tampa. so…. thats why im for it.
April 12th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Pete:
No. The Chicago climate — even in July — is nowhere close to the climate in Tampa.
(Central and southern Illinois is Florida-like in the summer.)
Much like the Packers have a decided advantage from October through the end of the season when southern teams play at Lambeau, so too do the Bucs when teams from the upper Midwest come down here in the brutal Florida sun wearing their dark home jerseys.
London climate in October is very Chicago-like.
April 12th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
there will probably be more bucs fans in the stands in london than there would be in tampa anyway.
April 12th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
It’s the Glazer’s Team. Have some respect and let them run it the way the want. It could be worse..
April 12th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Pete Dutcher said: “Wouldn’t the same be true of the Bears?”
Joe mentioned the weather aspect…..but my focus is more on the “2 out of 3 years” part of it, and the part that has BOTH games coming out of the Bucs schedule….
I wouldn’t mind the Bucs going overseas again, but this should be a Bears home game, not a Bucs home game
April 12th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Hey Joe when are you gonna do a London blackout tour? Does Paradise Limo have offices overseas?
April 12th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Mr. Lucky:
UPDATE: Joe’s friends at Paradise Worldwide Transportation do work overseas and service London. They can hook you up on either end if you’re flying out to the game. Good idea, Mr. Lucky. http://www.paradisewt.com
April 12th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Very disappointed in this decision. I was really looking forward to seeing this game in person. Would likely have sold out, considering all the bears fans, but still would have been a lot of fun. But if Joe can get Paradise to do the $9.95 round trip to London deal, then I am all in.
April 12th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Can’t we just ship the Saints over there….. permanently???
April 12th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
I was considering getting season tickets this year for the first time, even though I could barely afford it. Now I’m hesitant. What is the policy if a home game is taken away? Will there be a refund?
I’m going to have to wait now. I can’t be the only one who was about to get season tickets who now is going to wait and see on this. For a team that was blacked out all last year, this can’t be good for season ticket sales.
April 13th, 2011 at 12:39 am
Guess I’m going to London… if only
April 13th, 2011 at 5:58 am
@ IAN
in 2009 they only charged you for 9 home games instead of the 10. So you do get a refund or do not have to pay for the game if you pay in full.
At least that’s what they did then. I did not buy parking so don’t know if they refunded that too but would assume they must have.
I was kind of looking forward to the Bears game…should have moved the Lions game…but I don’t mind saving some money on my tickets.
Its also one less game that the refunded season ticket holders have to spend the $ returned to them in order to return. But that just means a few more jerseys and beer at another game I suppose.
April 13th, 2011 at 7:37 am
This is bull$h!t!!! Why do we have to give up a home game AGAIN…the Bears should be the ones giving up a home game. This is just another example of the league having it’s favorites…Just like the Buccaneers being Super Bowl Champions and having to open up on the road against the Iggles!!!
April 13th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Doesn’t surprise me, the Bucs have the largest fanbase in London, of course the NFL is going to try a capitalize off of it.
April 13th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Dreaded Buc is 100% correct. They have the largest fanbase of any NFL team in Europe! Hey something the Bucs are the leaders in! Sweet. Paul Stewart runs Bucspower.com. He may be from the UK but his heart bleeds orange and pewter. I’m a season ticket holder as well so losing a game kind of blows, but spreading Buccaneer love to the London fans isn’t bad. Like most of you said, the stadium would have probably been Soldier field South like it used to be in the 80’s and early 90’s. At least we get a chance to redeem ourselves after getting manhandled by the f’in Patriots.
April 13th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
One less humiliating home game loss.