Central Floridians yearning for a football fix now have an option at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, site of training camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Generally, there will be a morning practice and an afternoon session daily through mid-August.
Bonus: It’s free. Even the parking.
To be honest, this is for the die-hard and hardy fans. As you may have noticed, it’s hot outside. There’s some shade to be had on the two fields, located just beyond the complex’s gymnasium known as the Milk House. There’s also bleachers and some chair-back seats.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the experience Friday, which was mainly passing routes. You are close enough to hear the hut-huts of quarterbacks (Jason Jeff Garcia, gruff and gravely). And when action run towards the sidelines, there’s a bit of a rush.
There were hundreds of fans milling about. Mostly quiet but applauding impressive catches or letting out AWWWWS after near-catches. There are guys mouthing off about games 10 years ago and about the future (“I say we’re making a playoff run this year,” said one to no one in particular. “But I say that every year.”).
A few tips and pix after the jump.
Tips
- Practices are free, but look for a tent before you get to the stairs indicating where to pick up tickets. (There may be other events at Wide World, so you need a ticket to get through the gate).
- Pick up a roster there. At this point, the jerseys have numbers but not names. (An aside: Why do the training camp jerseys have funky Buc design … but they revert to regular type when the season starts?)
- The schedule is fluid. For instance, bad weather forced Saturday’s practice was indoors and it was not open to the public. I’d check the Bucs site for times and other info before venturing out.
- I heard a couple of dudes complaining about the lack of beer — in a tone that implied inalienable right. Just so you’ll know.
- Pack your binoculars. You’re close but not THAT close.
- Naturally, there are souvenirs for sale, mostly Bucs stuff, but also other NFL teams. One T-shirt reads “Buccaneers Training Camp, Lake Buena Vista, FL.” I was tempted.
PIX
Here’s the scene from the far side of the far field. I’m standing on the top bleacher.
That’s the Milk House in the background. The guy on the crane has a better view.
Here’s Jason Garcia in pass mode. This one was incomplete. (Insert snarky tone: Alert the fantasy leagues!)
Bucs cheerleaders signed autographs.
And for the little ones, there’s no reason to fear the mascot, Captain Fear.
