For some reason, it has taken us years to put a dedicated page up to one of the coolest things in the football season. The WTB?- BucsChat.com Tailgate has grown into something very special. This page will give you all you need to know in order to participate with the crew on Sundays!
Where are you guys?
Despite having published multiple maps, this always seems to trip folks up. We tailgate at a semi-scret, luxurious location off of Ohio Avenue. The address is: (Google Link here)
3316 W. Ohio Ave 33607
Tampa, FL 33607
On game day, the easiest way to get there is to come in from MacDill. When traveling South on MacDill, you will make a right hand turn onto W. Woodlawn Ave. (heading West) and then a right at your first stop sign (N. Lincoln – You will now be headed back North). Lincoln will curve at a 90 degree angle left (West) and turn into Ohio Avenue. The Buccaneers training camp will be on your right at this point and you will be heading west toward the stadium. The location is about 500 yards up on the left side of the road (there is a ditch and the old mall parking lot on the right so making that mistake means you are already drunk and should not be driving!)
There are signs for parking (which is $15.00) and a friendly parking attendant waiting for you.
What’s the tailgate like?
We like to say the tailgate is like a family reunion. It is a fun, laid back environment that, while drinking goes on, is also family friendly and quite often has plenty of young people playing sports. Brian, the owner of the lot, has a nice set of Mens and Womens restrooms on site for our use as well as an outdoor bar/kitchen with games on if you are interested in other activities.
We are lined up on the fence with the regalia provided by the Krew. You should get to know our Czar of the tailgate, BucaRino as he is the hardest working tailgater you will ever find! Chances are that if it is on disply at the tailgate, BucaRino is responsible (though Captain Bones has been providing some awesome props lately as well). We usually have 3-4 food tents set up with our bar and all of the grub cooked up by our own tailgate chef, Chef Red. You have seen his recipes here on the site as he provides a new spin on the opponent every week.
Besides eating, drinking and being merry (Who is Mary anyway? that joke works better when said as opposed to in writing) we have a pretty serious Cornhole tournament that goes own with our own Cornhole Commish (and a Championship belt!).
Net/net, if you come to our tailgate you will have a great time, get some great food and meet even greater people!
OK, sounds…great. How do I contribute and am I invited?
Everyone is welcome. Requirements are very stringnet:
1. Don’t be an ass
2. Pitch in
3. Have fun
As this is a family reunion feel, we do not require payment or do wristbands. We require participation. If you want to bring drinks, food, secret recipes, magical elixirs or contributions for our bar (always welcome) you will be welcome. If you are traveling in from abroad (even if you are a fan of the opposing team) and cannot bring an item, find on of the Krew and contribute cash. “Give til it hurts,” we like to say but more importantly, do your part and help us keep this tailgate the open party that we want it to be. We know a lot of tailgates have got wristbands and such and while that works for them, this model works for us. Help us keep this true spirit of fellowship alive (and don’t be the ass that takes money out of the tip jar…true story).
The Krew
We would be nothing with out the people that make this happen. While listing everyone would be a pain in the ass, you are all amazing! If you are contributing to the tailgate or have questions, these people should be able to help you out.
In the picture on the right you see a couple of our core Krew. BucaRino is the Jack Sparrow-ish pirate who really brought this whole thing together years ago. An expert tailgater and tireless worker, BucaRino always knows what is going on!
You see in the picture Jay the Tailgate Guy who visited our tailgate and will most certainly be back again. he is flanked by superfans Captain Bones and BucNutz.
Did you say you had a “chef”
Yes. Yes I did. This tailgate is legit people and beyond the common (but delicious) burgers, dogs, brats, chips, dips, deviled eggs and other common tailgate fare, our tailgate truly kicks it up a notch by having Chef Red (and various contributors provide themed dishes at each event. Driving his “Graham Ram” and toting not one, but two grills, Chef Red never disappoints. When you come to the tailgate and see the assortment of grilled pork tenderloin, Bloody Mary Chicken Wings, Philly Cheese Steaks, Ribs and other amazing food, you will want to go think him in person!
Along with a great crew comes the need for great gear and great partners. You guys surely remember the video from the tailgate that we were joined by the fins folks from TurboChill. If not, take a look here.
Well, as the tailgate grows, great things like partnerships are formed and while we have not received our unit quite *yet*, we can say that the TurboChill is What the Buc? – Tailgate Approved! Very soon all beer flowing at the What the Buc? Tailgate Zone will be poured from the amazing piece of technology known as a TurboChill!










LOL! Better late then never is all I have to say to Old School!
For those of you who are regulars at our tailgates there is not much I could tell you that you do not already know. I am biased, but I do believe our tailgate is the finest around with great people, food and festivities and they keep getting better and better each and every game.
The last tailgate for the throwback game against the Dirty Birds was off the chain as they say as it was the best in my memory as we had well over 100 people as I stopped counting at 100. I think we handled it very well though.
Of course we have to give a special shout out to Chef Red as I cannot say enough about this guy as what a great trooper he is as he prepares the majority of the food for everyone and he does an oustanding job. I am just afraid when the time comes we have to renew his contract!
jk
Everyone does an oustanding job for sure as we have people working behind the scenes at all times like Bones who lines up the cream of the crop as far as legendary Buc’s fans as people such as Buc Nasty, the Queen of the Buc’s, Scurvy, Jeff Fox, etc., etc. have become regulars.
Tomorrow is no exception as I hope everyone reading this will have a chance to come out as we have the crew from “The Big Chill” coming out to demo some products and they come bearing gifts in the form of Kegs of Beer!
We have had groups such as this starting to join us as last year we had the legendary “Jay the Tailgate” guy and “Dr. BBQ” join us and it was great.
I never dreamed that my tailgates would grow to what it has become as I started in 1997 out of my little Chrysler Sebring convertable with a grill, a flag and a boom box over at the HCC lot and look at it now? The best day in my tailgating history was years ago when we faced the Giant’s in the playoffs and the WTB crew stumbled upon my tailgate and we joined forces as like they say the rest is history!
I plan to maintain this site for the past and upcoming tailgates and I appreciate anyones input here. About tomorrows tailgate? These wet skies are supposed to clear up tonight and we are supposed to have a great day tomorrow with sunny skies and mid-60′s for the temp. Also like I said there will be tons of beer with the Kegs the Big Chill are bringing and Chef Red has another great menu in store.
I welcome everyone out tomorrow and you’re welcome to bring whatever you would like to contribute as Ice and Liquor are always welcome or you can just bring yourself and donate if you wish. I know I always encourage those to donate to Chef Red for the incredible job this man does and the sacrifices he makes!
See ya all tomorrow and Go Buc’s!!
Cap’t. Rino