lovers watching from the stands. The
Stanley Cup even got a Jet Ski ride
with players Steven Stamkos and Alex
Killorn. Thankfully, it survived the revelry,
and the team took it with them to the
next party, a free fan event at Raymond
James Stadium.
Team captain Steven Stamkos called
the win unbelievable. “I’ve been in this
city for 12 years,” he said. “But this is
by far the best experience of my hockey
life.”
THE BUCCANEERS
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers followed
up the Lightning’s big win by tromping
on the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super
Bowl LV in February at Raymond James
Stadium. The secret sauce this year may
have been the addition of new quarterback
Tom Brady, who brought with
him six Super Bowl wins and secured
his seventh with the Bucs. Brady led the
team to an 11-5 season, with the help
of his teammates, including his former
New England Patriots teammate, Rob
“Gronk” Gronkowski.
Thousands of elated Bucs fans celebrated
with the team, lining the streets
overlooking the Hillsborough River.
They followed the lead of their fellow
champs, The Lightning, and cruised by
in a boat parade.
Coach Bruce Arians told ESPN that
������������������������������������������������������������������������
champs. “We’re going for two,” Arians
said. “And we ain’t stopping. We’re
gonna keep this band together, and
they know how to win.”
THE RAYS
The boys of St. Petersburg started Major
League Baseball’s 2020 season with a
delay, as spring training ground to a
halt with the onset of the pandemic.
Thankfully, training resumed in July, and
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of their season on July 24 at home in
FAN TAKES
JASON MAHONEY, 47
LIGHTNING FAN SINCE 1998
"I fell in love with hockey
after I moved here and
started going to the games.
Since my wife and I had
kids, they have all learned to
skate, and my son, Henry,
plays on the Jr. Lightning
hockey team. It’s so impressive
how the organization
engages with the community.
They are everywhere, and
they really help out with the
kids’ hockey league.”
JAKE HAMILTON, AGE 11
BUCCANEERS FAN SINCE 2019
“They’re my favorite because
my favorite player, Mike
Evans, is on the team. It was
great watching them go from
a 7-9 season to winning a
championship. It was only
my second year of watching,
and they already won a
Super Bowl!”
STPETE.COM/BURGLIFE 29
/BURGLIFE
