The 2018 USF Football season presented by Valley National Bank will feature some new and enhanced fan game day experiences in and around Raymond James Stadium when the Bulls open the season on Saturday vs. Elon in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
USF continues to add to one of the best family experiences in the Bay Area on football game days. Below are some of the USF football game day experiences and enhancements, including the new Bulls Bay and the Beef O’Brady’s Junior Bulls on Parade, for Bulls fans to look forward to at Raymond James Stadium this season.
BULLS BAY
The USF football pregame fan experience moves to a new location in the south plaza outside Raymond James Stadium, directly below the scoreboard, and takes on a new name starting in 2018. Bulls Bay will open to fans three hours prior to kickoff with an enhanced pregame experience including food, drinks, music and fun. Bulls Bay will feature face painters, bounce houses for the kids, Rocky the Bull and promotional giveaways for fans throughout the season. Then, starting with the ECU game on Saturday, September 22, fans are encouraged to chill out on Adirondack chairs under Tiki Hut umbrellas on the new sand beaches located throughout the plaza as they await the Bulls Stampede of players and coaches entering the stadium for game day through Bulls Bay approximately two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff.
BEEF O’BRADY’S JUNIOR BULLS ON PARADE
New this season, children 12 years old and younger will have the opportunity to run out of the Bulls tunnel onto the Raymond James Stadium field during pregame activities prior to the USF team taking the field. The Beef O’Brady’s Junior Bulls on Parade pregame experience is open to all children 12 years old and younger and their parents, who may escort children to ensure a safe and memorable experience that will last a lifetime. Parents and children wishing to participate in the Junior Bulls on Parade should meet USF Athletics representatives at the stadium Gate C ground level ramp no later than 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Participants will receive a wristband and be escorted to the Bull Pen before running. Parents may run with their children or meet them after they run at the Gate D tunnel.
TAILGATE GUYS
Returning after its debut in 2017, Tailgate Guys will provide a full-service tailgate experience right outside Raymond James Stadium with many package options for Bulls fans that don’t want to bring their own food, drinks and entertainment on game day. Having a fun tailgate experience got easier for Bulls fans with Tailgate Guys offering full-service tailgating for all home games this season. To reserve your tailgate follow the link below:
https://tailgateguys.com/home/usf
BULLS STAMPEDE
A new tradition Bulls fans have embraced in big numbers is cheering on USF players and coaches as they enter the stadium on game day in the Bulls Stampede. Starting approximately two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff, buses will unload players and coaches in parking lot 6D south of the stadium and they will walk up the road between Lot 5 and Lot 6D and through the Bulls Bay in the south plaza before entering the stadium. Rocky the Bull, the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, USF cheerleaders and Sun Dolls will welcome the Bulls with fans are encouraged to line the walkway and cheer on players and coaches as they prepare represent the Green and Gold.
HOT BAND ROAD SHOW
Always a fan favorite, the Herd of Thunder Marching Band Road Show will take place outside Raymond James Stadium on game days one hour and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. Fans can enjoy the performance on Tampa Bay Blvd., which runs along the stadium’s south plaza.
ROCKYBOT: GAMEDAY FAN SUPPORT SERVICE
USF fans can text their favorite mascot to help get their game day experience questions answered. On game day, simply send a text message to RockyBot at 813-993-0336 to get answers regarding tickets, parking, first aid, locations of restrooms, restaurants, water fountains, and more. RockyBot is designed to help answer fans questions in real-time and it will continue to become more robust as the season progresses.
SMOKE AND TOBACCO-FREE STADIUM
New this season, Raymond James Stadium will be a smoke and tobacco-free venue for all stadium events, including USF football and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games. There will no longer be designated smoking areas within the stadium. In accordance with the new policy, all areas located within the entrance gates to Raymond James Stadium will be designated as smoke and tobacco-free. Patrons wishing to smoke or use tobacco products may still do so prior to entering the stadium, but will not be allowed to exit and re-enter. The policy prohibits the use of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes or vapor pipes. Raymond James Stadium joins the growing majority of professional and college venues that either severely limit or no longer allow smoking in any capacity in order to ensure a healthy atmosphere that maximizes air quality and eliminates secondhand smoke.
USF begins the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 with a 6 p.m. kickoff vs. Elon in Raymond James Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and can be heard live on the USF Radio Network (820 AM locally, iHeart Radio Bulls Unlimited Channel).
Season and single-game tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls, visiting http://www.USFBullsTix.com or in-person at the USF Ticket Office (Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center) Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.