The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will become the first team in 55 years to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium on Feb. 7.
“It’s a huge advantage,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said Monday.
It could prove an even bigger edge than normal in a season that continues to be impacted at every turn by the coronavirus pandemic.
The traditional Super Bowl media day and all other interviews throughout the week, including postgame, will be done virtually. ESPN reported before Sunday’s conference championship games that the winning teams would not arrive in Tampa until at least Feb. 5.
Of course, Tampa Bay is not encumbered by those travel restrictions.
“We stay in our own beds, sleep here and just do our normal routine,” Arians said Monday after the Bucs returned from their 31-26 win at Green Bay in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. “Nothing is out of the ordinary until we hit the media sessions next week.
“Just to be able to stay in your routine, sleep in your bed and all that stuff.”
However, Arians also sees an advantage for the Chiefs compared to typical Super Bowls.
Kansas City will arrive to the host city without the normal distractions of media requirements and friends and family trying to come to town for the festivities.
“I think it really helps them,” Arians said. “Normally, when you get to town for Super Bowl, everybody’s pulling and tugging you — trying to get everything done the week before. Then, when you hit town, you’ve got all the media obligations and your practice and game plans are all put in.
“I think it’s a great advantage for them (because) it’s just an away game. They get to do their normal prep just like we do. Nobody’s going to get tied up in all that stuff.”
Super Bowl LV will be held on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium, with some 22,000 in attendance.
–Field Level Media
