The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team in the American Football Conference (AFC). Despite high expectations from fans and management, the team appeared incapable of winning. In fact, the club has the dubious distinction of losing their first 26 games as an NFL franchise (an NFL record to this day). Often, the fans were stunned by what seemed to be a never-ending string of errors. Much of the blame was placed on the Buccaneers' head coach, John McKay. Their frustration grew and by the end of 1977, bumper stickers that proclaimed, "Throw McKay in the Bay" were seen throughout the city.
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1979 seemed to be a turning point for the team. They won the Division title that year and again in 1981. Hopes were high going into the 1981 playoffs, but the Dallas Cowboys demolished the Buccaneers and sent them home in shame. In 1983, the club's spirits were low and were matched by the expectations of local fans. They struggled for 13 years to shed the image of being one of the worst teams in NFL history. In 1996, Tony Dungy was hired as head coach and he immediately began laying the foundation for the Buccaneers' future.
From The Ashes Of Defeat
With Dungy at the team's head, the Buccaneers finally returned to the playoffs in 1997. However, after failing to guide the franchise to the Super Bowl, Dungy was fired in 2001. He was eventually replaced by Jon Gruden, who immediately began building the team's offensive line (a constant source of ire for the Buccaneers' management). His retooling paid off and in 2002, Gruden led his team to win the Super Bowl, largely dismantling the club's dismal image.
Watching The Battle Live
The Buccaneers moved into Raymond James Stadium in 1998. The venue seats 65,857 and can be expanded to 75,000 for high-profile games. Tickets are reasonably priced starting at $27 and are generally easy to purchase. Despite their 2002 Super Bowl victory and Division titles in 2005 and 2007, home games rarely sell out in advance. That said, 2006 granted the franchise the opportunity to hire several free agents. If they perform as expected, ticket sales will likely strengthen.