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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2001
TAMPA -- Fans attending Sunday's Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium can expect a variety of new security measures, some of which will cause delays entering the parking lot and the stadium.
The team is urging fans to arrive earlier than usual for the 4:15 p.m. kickoff. Parking lots will open at 12:15 p.m., and fans who use reserved parking should expect potentially long delays.
Stadium gates open at 2:15 p.m. There will be inspection stations at all entry points, and there is no stadium re-entry (i.e. if you leave, you can't get back in).
Among those items now prohibited in the stadium are purses larger than 4 inches by 6 inches, coolers, hard containers, large bags, fanny packs, backpacks, binocular or camera cases, video cameras, seat cushions, banners or flags with sticks or poles and diaper bags larger than 8 inches by 9 inches. Prohibited items will not be stored at the gates.
Items previously prohibited (umbrellas, coolers, etc.) are still banned. All non-banned objects larger than a small purse will be subject to visual inspections.
Permitted items include ponchos, blankets or towels, small radios or TVs with earphones, hats, binoculars (without a case), cameras (without a case), banners or flags without sticks or poles, empty spray bottles and diaper bags smaller than 8 inches by 9 inches.