TAMPA, Fla — The city of Tampa announced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV champion boat parade will set sail at 1 p.m. Wednesday on the Hillsborough River.
There will be plenty of space to watch the parade along the Riverwalk, with boats kicking off the celebration at Armature Works and sailing to Sparkman Wharf. Masks will be required to limit the spread of COVID-19, officials said, even outdoors as part of a city executive order.
The reminder comes as many mask-less fans were seen after the Buccaneers' 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
For people who cannot make it, the event will be live-streamed. An ADA accessible area will be set up on the Riverwalk behind the Tampa Convention Center.
"We are so proud of our Bucs for making history as the first team to not only play the Super Bowl in their home stadium but to win, too," Mayor Jane Castor said in a video.
The city said the following bridges will be closed as the parade approaches -- they will reopen once the Lombardi Trophy passes by:
- Laurel Street Bridge
- Cass Street Bridge
- Kennedy Boulevard Bridge
- Brorein Street Bridge
- Platt Street Bridge
Although boaters can be in the water, the city says they cannot participate in the parade. They will need to remain at least 50-feet from the official vessels.
"The waters along the parade route are considered a United States Coast Guard Emergency Safety Zone Event," the city said in a news release. "Local, state and federal law enforcement partners will line the route to ensure safety and compliance."
The city also provided the following parking options for fans:
- Poe Garage and Tampa Convention Center Garage - Event flat fee rate of $10
- Fort Brooke Garage and Pam Iorio Garage - $2 per hour
- Palm Garage in Ybor - $1 per hour (visitors can catch the free TECO Streetcar to Downtown)
- Surface lots - $1 per hour
For anyone hoping to hop on a HART bus to head to the festivities, they are reminded to mask-up and practice social distancing. HART also said there would be detours for certain lines. The change in routes can be found here.
Dubbed "Champa Bay," our area is now home to the reigning Super Bowl champs (the Bucs), the reigning Stanley Cup champs (the Lightning), the American League champs (the Rays), and the Eastern Conference champs (the Rowdies).
Our sports teams have helped hold the Bay area together during this unprecedented time, navigating new health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.
They've given us something to rally around – to believe in.
The Buccaneers picked up their second Super Bowl title and made history by becoming the first team to play "the big game" in their home stadium.
Almost a year ago, legendary quarterback Tom Brady made the decision to move to Tampa. Now, he's earned his seventh Super Bowl ring, more than any other player in NFL history.
The 43-year-old Super Bowl MVP made clear after the game: he's not retiring.
City leaders have spent the last few days figuring out exactly how they'll hold the formal celebration of the Bucs' win – and how they'll ensure it's responsible.
"We can't have a historical event of this significance in our community and not celebrate," Castor said this week. "We will do it in a safe manner."
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has had security plans in place for a while now. Even before Super Bowl LV, the agency was operating on the understanding there would be some sort of parade if the Bucs won.
"We can't wait," Sheriff Chad Chronister said previously.
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