Things To Know Before You Go To The Taylor Swift Concert in Tampa

Taylor Swift is finally blessing Tampa Bay with her presence this week. On Thursday, April 13, Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15, Swifties from around the world will unite at Raymond James Stadium for Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour.

This isn’t just any concert. It’s a huge stadium show. And the reviews from our previous stops have been great. Earlier this year when the tickets went on sale, it was a total debacle. Ticketmaster was in no way capable of handling the demand for the tickets. Many Taylor Swift fans were left furious and exhausted at the tedious process of trying to secure tickets all to no avail. Even fans who had priority ticket purchasing privileges were blocked out

Nevertheless, the week is finally upon us. And for those of you lucky enough to score tickets to the big concert there are several things you should probably know before you go.

The parking lots around Raymond James Stadium open at 3 PM and if you need handicap parking, it will be available on a first come first serve basis. If you’re planning on taking a rideshare service or having someone drop you off at the concert, listen up.  They will drop you off and pick you up at Steinbrenner Field off of Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Gates to Raymond James stadium will open up at 4:30p. All tickets are digital, so be ready with your Apple wallet or your Google Play ready to scan. Screenshots of your tickets will not be excepted. If you need special assistance, ADA compliant entrance will be the Ford Gate or Gate C. The opener will be on stage by 6:30p so make sure you get there early!

If you’re going to carry a bag, it must be 4 1/2” x 6 1/2” only. Diaper bags of medical bags will be allowed only if you fill out a special need form at least 72 hours prior to the concert. Don’t even think about bringing any costumes or signs with battery packs. They will not be permitted. Besides COVID medical masks no other masks are allowed.

Large cameras with detachable lenses will not be allowed, however, digital cameras, with small camera bags, and GoPro’s will be permitted.

For the full list of everything you need to know check out Raymond James Stadium’s official site

Heading to Ray Jay for a concert or a Bucs game? Hit up one of these restaurants near Raymond James Stadium. Many of these spots even stay open late.

In the summertime, it's way to hot to tailgate before any concert. So we suggest pregaming at one of these restaurants instead. Most of them are about a 20 minute walk to Raymond James Stadium, if you wanted to save the Uber trip. For most concerts, doors open around 4 or 5, which means you might even be able to catch some happy hour specials if it falls on a weekday!

So where should you go to eat before the show? There's plenty of great restaurants by Raymond James to choose from. Know that you may not be able to leave your car there, even if it's walking distance. But it may make your Uber price cheaper to get picked up from these places instead or waiting at the drop off area at the stadium. We went to Yelp to see the highest rated places and added a few of our own favorites.

Located at 3255 West Cypress Street, this place is described as half butchery and half cafe. The Boozy Burger gets high marks as does their version of the Cuban called the El Mixto with garlic dill pickle.

When I first moved to Tampa, I was pretty bummed out by the lack of great sports bars. But that's changed in 10 years. A lot in Tampa sports has changed in these past 10 years. We're Champa Bay now and the sports bars have stepped up their game too. Definitely try the chili or the burger served on a croissant with egg. Plenty of TVs everywhere so it's a great place to watch a game. Riveters is at 2301 North Dale Mabry.

Open til midnight at 3426 West Columbus Drive, this place gets busy for a reason. Well known for their Cuban sandwiches, the bread has that crisy crust and soft interior people love. If you love plantains, try the Plateano Relleno stuffed with beef.

Brick House Tavern & Tap is a great option on Dale Mabry. It's about 1.7 miles away from Raymond James so it's up to you if you can make the 30 minute walk or take a chance with Uber.

The Hot Honey Pizza is the star of the show at this Italian restaurant at 1015 Grammercy Lane. Save room for cannoli or tiramasu. The pasta tends to get mixed reviews. Stick with that pizza. It's unique and spicy. Just like you.