The Buccaneers’ Customer Service Dynasty
March 26th, 2021
The Buccaneers treat their paying partners extraordinarily well, from the local dying newspaper and other media outlets, to the fans who buy all their tickets.
In fact, Tampa Bay recently won an incredible honor from the NFL for the seventh time in nine years.
Joe has written about this in past years, but it’s always worth mentioning when the honor comes. After all, it’s a title that tabs the Bucs as best in the business when it comes to serving their season ticket holders (aka season pass members).
The “W” comes from the release of the 2020 Voice of the Fan report, an annual league study of fans’ opinions of their experience as season ticket customers, as well as at the stadium on gamedays. The NFL surveys thousands of fans across the league.
The Bucs also grabbed this customer-satisfaction title in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Joe is incredibly impressed. It was amazing to see the Bucs bring home the gold year after year despite the team having a brutal home record.
Now the Bucs’ front office has a welcome new challenge ahead for 2021, defending their customer service title with more season ticket holders, more actual bodies in the seats and at the concession stands, and higher prices.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:10 am
That’s cool, I’m from Idaho but damn someday I’d love to be a season ticket holder. Gonna go to the rams game and flying out for a game in Tampa this season. Be cool to meet up with anyone going to la as well
March 26th, 2021 at 12:33 am
Kord there is a facebook group called Buccaholics. Pretty awesome group and many chapters. Pretty crazy to see lots of Bucs fans that live here in Montana even. But every year they do a takeover at a away game. Two years ago was LA. I think that’s where the takeover will be this year too. Usually there is a lot of bucs fans at them
March 26th, 2021 at 12:41 am
Kord: I’m a season ticket holder here in Tampa. Try to do at least one road game a year. Usually in every city there’s a local fan club for the visiting team, and they usually schedule one or two events, such as a certain bar everyone from out of town can meet at on Saturday night, and where the same group will park or tailgate on game day. They make themselves very “findable” on google or social media. I’ve met many Buc fans this way, some that I host in Tampa (for tailgating) when they’re in town. The biggest/best fan club I’ve experienced is in Atlanta. There’s only one stadium I’ve been in that’s better than Raymond James: Century Link Field in Seattle, and ironically, they have zero tailgating.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:57 am
It’s usually a west coast game.
Joe remembers in 2016 at San Diego. The Buccaholics literally took over the west side of the stadium, behind the Chargers’ bench. It was awesome to see.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:59 am
Mtbucsfan : So cool to hear about all the Buc fans in Montana. The most surprisingly number of Buc fans I’ve encountered was vs the Jets 2013, first game in the new Met Life Stadium. The ones I talked to mentioned being fans of our first SB team when they were kids. Me and my bestie and everyone else in the NFL missed out on the Vegas game last year. This year the Patriots, Jets (love NYC) and LA look like good away games but trust me it’s not possible to not have a good time in New Orleans, though you may need a liver transplant when you get home.
March 26th, 2021 at 1:14 am
The Buccaholics have a huge SoCal group. It was a sea of red when we walked into the rams stadium. Sapp stopped by the block party too!
March 26th, 2021 at 6:08 am
My wife and I are season ticket holders this year. Went to the most awesome, perfect, greatest ever in SB LV; still can’t get over what an awesome experience that was. Would LOVE for the “takeover” to be in NE this year. Someone just asked me about going and I thought it was a great idea. Poor Pats fans – who do you root for? Pats or Brady? I know, you have to cheer for your team, but I think you walk away happy that day even after TB shows who is boss!
March 26th, 2021 at 6:48 am
As a member of the Krewe, I will stand and say that the season ticket packages have gone down in quality and the lack of physical tickets (replaced by a digital lanyard) is a bummer for memories. Also, the lack of gameday giveaways or the refusal to make them fun (I have a Lee Roy Selom commemorative coin, Derrick Brooks bobble head, Winston. Action figure). I have enough Spectrum-sponsored red shirts and visors.
Now with that said, my ticket rep has never let me down when I call to make a request each season. I have been part of the flag team during pregame and the training camp sessions are always a blast.
Go Bucs!
March 26th, 2021 at 7:28 am
I was hoping to be able to go to the LA game this year provided the border is open and we can travel from Canada again. Thanks for posting this story and for the comments about the fan site that I can join. I didn’t really know how to find out where others may be sitting in that massive stadium. I am really excited now.
March 26th, 2021 at 9:17 am
As a 27 year season ticket holder, I’ve NEVER been asked to vote in this survey and rightfully so. I (and several other pass member friends of mine) have consistently had issues with game day experiences. I guess our surveys don’t count! I can’t speak for the other long-term pass members, but most of the ones I know think this award every year is a joke. If we are the gold standard, I hate to see what the experience is for fans of other teams in the league!
March 26th, 2021 at 9:22 am
In an age of Pandemic and worse it’s hard to see all of our blessings.
We live in the Golden Age of Tampa Bay Sports! It literally cannot get any better.
We are the defending SB Champs. The defending Stanley Cup Champs, And the ownership of both teams is award winning at customer service.
Both ownerships have also quietly/not so quietly made big investments in our communities…both philanthropically and commercially.
The Glazers now own the Vinoy Renaissance resort complex…golf course..tennis courts and hotel on St. Pete’s waterfront. Jeff Vinik heads an investment group with some major investment plans in downtown Tampa.
Winning teams…owners invested in our community…it’s all good right now!!!
March 26th, 2021 at 10:25 am
I’ve been a season pass holder for 8 years and I have no complaints. I’m happy with the service I receive.
March 26th, 2021 at 11:08 am
Why do you go outta your way to portray the Tampa Bay Times as a DYING newspaper? Layoffs, furloughs, multiple pay cuts, selling off of assets, no longer printing their own newspaper, going from 7 days a week to twice a week, going pay-per-read online, which further separates the newspaper from the community. Just calling it as it is. Nearly every newspaper is dying, and loads already have died. …You are on the only one trading in conspiracies. Joe subscribes to and and reads many newspapers online, including the Times.–Joe
I realize they don’t trade in right wing conspiracies or white supremacy manifestos. Your hate shines through Joe
March 26th, 2021 at 11:27 am
David F
After 21 seasons I didn’t renew my season passes. Service was great until Malcom died. I was paying a premium for club seats but the service sucked every game. How do you run out of draft beer before halftime? Not once not twice but three times in a season? No security so any ticket holder could “sneak” into club. The Bucs also let non club members in for free at halftime. Long lines at the pisser. I’m not paying a premium to wait in line to pee.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
40+ year Season Ticket Holder and I can tell you that personally, the customer service sucks. For my Lightning tickets, I can get my rep within about an hour if I need something. For the Bucs, I’ll get a return email eventually. But my favorite during the lost decade were the post game surveys….
“Other than the outcome of the game, how was your game day experience?”
Well, you sell the seats behind us to anyone and everyone who can be as drunk, foulmouth and unruly as they want, but when Buc fan finally tells them to STFU, WE get a letter warning us about violating the fan code of conduct. That’s apprently not an issue for the guy wearing the Saints jersy urinating in the aisle.
Keep winning and I really don’t care.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Kord, I through a killer tailgate before every home game. Hit me up on Twitter @DRobLewis and I’ll give you my contact information. That goes for any Buc fan wanting to have a great time before the game.
March 26th, 2021 at 1:46 pm
My wife, son and I are flying in from Arizona this year for a game. Rob I will take you up on that offer!
March 26th, 2021 at 2:35 pm
“My wife, son and I are flying in from Arizona this year for a game. Rob I will take you up on that offer!”
Very cool, James. I’ll look for the Tweet or the DM.
March 27th, 2021 at 3:29 pm
What absolute nonsense. The Bucs management and employees see their fans as an ATM.