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TBSC NEWS TAMPA BAY SPORTS COMMISSION AUGUST NEWS UPDATES

In This Edition

  • NFL Kickoff Presented by EA Sports Madden NFL 22
  • Replay Tampa Bay Donates New, Gently Used Sporting Goods to Local Youth
  • Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest Returns October 16
  • 9th Annual Buccaneers' Treasure Chests 5K
  • National Hockey Festival Returns to Tampa Bay
  • Super Bowl LV Forever 55 Impact Feature
  • Upcoming TBSC Volunteer Opportunities

2021 NFL Kickoff Presented by EA Sports Madden NFL 22 Celebrates Start of NFL Season Thurs., Sept. 9

The NFL welcomes fans back for the 2021 season with 2021 NFL KICKOFF PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 22. Four-time GRAMMY award-winning singer, songwriter ED SHEERAN will perform live at JULIAN B. LANE RIVERFRONT PARK in Tampa prior to the Cowboys - Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium.

To further celebrate the return to football, the 2021 KICKOFF EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 22 will take place starting at 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, September 9 at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. Kickoff Experience is free and open to the public on a first-come, first serve basis and the NFL OnePass app is required for admission.

Replay Tampa Bay Donates New, Gently Used Sporting Goods to Youth

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC), alongside members of the 3A State Champion Tampa Catholic High School Boys Soccer team, donated over 200 new and gently used sporting goods to the afterschool program at the Tampa Police Athletic League (PAL) as part of Replay Tampa Bay's first distribution event of 2021.

Replay Tampa Bay, an initiative designed to "Help Keep Kids in the Game," is an annual sporting goods drive that collects new and gently used sporting goods and distributes them to the local youth. Together with Team Tampa Bay partners, the TBSC, Elder Automotive, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, and others, have collected and distributed more than 4000 items for local kids in need since 2011.

Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest Returns October 16

The seventh annual Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest, the area’s ultimate tailgate party, returns to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Saturday, October 16. Hosted by the Event Development Institute (EDI) and Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC), Tampa Bay’s Tailgate Taste Fest is FREE to attend and open to the public. The family and pet-friendly event will be held from 3 – 10:30pm and will include all the components for the perfect tailgate.

Fans of all ages will have the opportunity to enjoy the day’s best college football matchups on two, large LED screens, live music, and family-friendly activities in the “Fan Zone”, featuring activations from some of the area’s sports franchises.

Tampa Bay’s incredible food scene is sure to highlight the day as more than 15 local restaurant venders will be participating in the event once again. Beer and specially crafted bar libations will also be available for guests to purchase. Food-Sample and VIT (Very Important Tailgater) Wristbands are available for purchase online now at TailgateTasteFest.com as well as on site the day of the event.

Join Us For the 9th Annual Buccaneers' Treasure Chests 5K + Fun Run, Powered by Jabil!

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' annual Treasure Chests 5K + Fun Run powered by Jabil and sponsored by Coke Florida and Ambetter is back with two great options. Race with us in person on Sunday, October 24 or virtually anytime, anywhere October 24-31. Every registration benefits local organizations in our community who specialize in breast cancer research and patient services, so register today! Here’s what you get when you register:

  • Race bib
  • Official Treasure Chests 5K + Fun Run t-shirt
  • Commemorative finisher medal
  • Downloadable finisher certificate
  • Donation to breast cancer research and patient services
  • Awards for the top overall winners

2021 National Hockey Festival Returns to Tampa Bay

USA Field Hockey is excited to announce that the 2021 National Hockey Festival will be returning to the beautiful Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay in Florida. The 40th edition of this traditional Thanksgiving weekend event will take place from Thursday, November 25 through Saturday, November 27 and USA Field Hockey is proud to continue the relationship with the experienced staff of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and Visit Tampa Bay to deliver this exciting event.

The Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay is a multi-sport championship facility designed to bring elite tournaments to the area. The facility, located in southeast Hillsborough County, is centrally located to the airport, interstates, and downtown Tampa.

Super Bowl LV leaves a lasting legacy for Seffner mom who went from homelessness to helping others

Not too long ago, Alexia Shepard was out of work, a victim of the pandemic. And soon after that, she was homeless and her family was living in a car. Alexia Shepard is now studying to be a nurse. Shepard has since become a media darling as much for her uplifting outlook on life as for her good fortune to be blessed by Super Bowl LV. Shepard, son Chase, and daughter Harmonii Nicole are one of 19 area families to be beneficiaries of the Super Bowl LV Forever 55 legacy grant worth $2 million of the NFL's money.

While the economic impact of hosting the Super Bowl is significant, it’s the Super Bowl’s social impact that leaves an eternal legacy. Super Bowl Week was more than the NFL’s championship game, endless fan activities, or a celebration with our hometown team. It provided one of the world’s largest social platforms to promote the initiatives most important to our community.

In August of 2020, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee unveiled its social legacy initiative, “Forever 55.” With a unified focus on critical causes and social issues, the program sought to represent the everlasting impression that Super Bowl LV will have on Tampa Bay for years to come.

Together, the NFL, Super Bowl LV Host Committee, community organizations and civic partners collaborated in intentional and strategic ways to create, support and implement long-lasting initiatives throughout Tampa Bay. A $2 million investment by the local Host Committee and the NFL focused on pillars that best reflected the needs of our community, including Early Childhood Education, Families, Food Insecurity, Health & Wellness, Sustainability, Systemic Justice, and Microgrants. Each designed to move our community Forward. Forever. Together.

TBSC Volunteer Opportunities

The 2021 NFL Kickoff Experience will be held on Thursday, September 9 in Julian B. Lane Park in Downtown Tampa. Whether you’re a local ambassador to Team Tampa Bay and love to welcome visitors to our destination, an avid Buccaneers fan, or enjoy contributing to the success of Tampa Bay events, we have a volunteer position that’s right for you.

The NFL and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission can’t thank you enough for your interest and support. We look forward to working with you!

Featured Video

Local High School Athletes Participate in Annual Hillsborough County Football Combine

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Hillsborough County, and the National Football Foundation teamed up to host the annual football combine. Over 110 athletes participated in the May event at the Tournament SportsPlex of Tampa Bay. The athletes ran through drills in front of nine attending colleges.

Youth and Amateur Events

The Tampa Bay area is safely reopening to host youth and amateur events throughout Hillsborough County, including 20+ events between August and November 2021.

  • AUG 05 - INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BODYBUILDING AND FITNESS YAMAMOTO NUTRITION CUP TAMPA PRO XIV
  • OCT 08 - HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY UNITED SOCCER CLUB ADIDAS COLUMBUS DAY CLASSIC
  • OCT 15 - RED BULL 27TH ANNUAL TAMPA PRO
  • NOV 04 - NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SOUTH REGIONAL
  • NOV 05 - AMERICAN POOLPLAYERS ASSOCIATION, INC. U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
  • NOV 06 - ELITE TOURNAMENTS - ELITE ACADEMY - SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SHOWCASE
  • NOV 18 - 27TH ANNUAL TAMPA AM & SPOT 28 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
  • NOV 20 - NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
  • NOV 25 - USA FIELD HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY FESTIVAL
  • NOV 26 - ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA HOLIDAY FESTIVAL ARABIAN/HALF ARABIAN HORSE SHOW

For a full list of event previews, please visit our TBSC event calendar at the link below.

TBSC Partner Spotlight

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