Page 28 - Florida Sentinel 2-5-21

Super Bowl LV
Tampa Fans React To Bucs Making History In The Super Bowl
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
For the fifth time, Tampa will host the most prestigious football game of the year – the Super Bowl. On February 7, 2021, the National Football League’s the NFC champions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and AFC champions, Kansas City Chiefs, will play in the 55th Super Bowl.
The celebration and game will be different this year as the country is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The seating will be limited to 22,000 fans, the smallest ever attendance for a game of this magnitude. Traditional events held during Super Bowl week will be significantly reduced. Capacity at the Super Bowl Ex- perience at Riverfront Park will be limited due to health and safety protocols. Instead of holding practices and media events during the week before
the game in Tampa, the Chiefs will fly into Tampa on the day before the game.
Despite these limitations, Tampa residents are excited and ready to watch the home team make history. We spoke to a few citizens to get their re- actions to the Buccaneers playing in their home stadium for the Super Bowl.
BARRY CLARK
ERNEST CONEY
“I am really excited about the Bucca- neers being in the Super Bowl. I grew up with the
Bucs and put up with people calling them the “Cardiac Kids” because they were al- ways trying to make that comeback. It’s really special to see them return to greatness of the Tony Dungy era.”
STATE REP. FENTRICE
DRISKELL
team to have the home field advantage. Plus, we get to show that it is possible to have a world-class event on sports’
greatest stage in a COVID-safe way. After the tumultuous times of 2020, we can all use this relief.
“I also applaud the Super Bowl LV Committee’s efforts to be inclusive of minority- owned vendors through its Business Connect program, which is being led by Black women. The Super Bowl al- ways brings incredible eco- nomic opportunity to the city and region that hosts it. I ap- preciate the NFL’s concerted effort to make sure that Black and other minority-owned businesses will have the chance to experience the eco- nomic uplift that occurs when the Super Bowl comes to town. The committee also has hosted events and sponsored initia- tives centered on addressing economic and racial injustice, including the virtual commu- nity conversation on race that was held on MLK Day. I’m glad that the NFL is rising to the occasion and meeting this moment in our nation’s his- tory, which calls for us to re- main vigilant and socially conscious even during every- thing else we do.”
FORMER COUNTY
agreed with the Buccaneers treatment of Doug Williams, Tony Dungy, and other Black players, I am still pulling for them. Their time has come to bring home a championship.”
ATTORNEY ED NARAIN
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase Tampa to the rest of the world. It has been 12 years
since we last hosted and Tampa has grown and flour- ished. It is also remarkably historic that the Buccaneers will be the first team to play in their home stadium. Tampa is rapidly becoming ‘Titletown’ with the Lightning winning the Stanley Cup, the Tampa Bay Rays playing in the World Se- ries, and now the Buccaneers possibly winning the Super Bowl.Itisacooltimetobein Tampa.”
KENNIE SIMS
“To have the Buccaneers become the first NFL team to earn a Super Bowl appearance in
their home stadium is truly a remarkable achievement. Even more remarkable is how quickly the team turned itself around. Last year they finished 7-9, they are now headed into SBLV riding a 7-game winning streak. Along with the Tampa Bay residents and fans, I am truly excited to see our home team in Super Bowl LV. I will be cheering them on.”
have made it
Bowl. However, I am a bit melancholy because of COVID-19. We cannot be there, and we cannot see them in person. We must watch them from a distance. We are still big fans.”
“As a long- time fan and season ticket holder, I am incredibly happy that the Buccaneers to the Super
“All eyes will be on Tampa for the Super Bowl as the Bucs make history by being the first
COMM. LES
the entire history of the Na- tional Football League, never has the home team played in a Super Bowl. This is the first time and the Buccaneers have done it. Although I have dis-
MILLER
“All Tampa residents should be proud of this event as this is truly history- making. In
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