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Free passes to Bucs training camp already going fast

Tampa Bay announced six days of practice open to public, but a week before camp, four of them have no seats available.
 
Bucs players work out in the team's new indoor practice facility, where six training camp practices open to the public will finish up in the next six weeks. Free passes for those practices are going fast.
(MONICA HERNDON | Times)
Bucs players work out in the team's new indoor practice facility, where six training camp practices open to the public will finish up in the next six weeks. Free passes for those practices are going fast. (MONICA HERNDON | Times)
Published July 19, 2018

Those free passes to a limited window for the general public to see the Bucs practice in training camp are already almost gone.

Last month, the team announced that only six practices would be open to the  general public, with fans required to go online and register for free passes. As of Wednesday night, four of those six (including all three weekend dates) had no tickets available, leaving only two weekday sessions on Aug. 14 and Aug. 22.

The Bucs' indoor practice facility can accommodate up to 3,500 fans, and the cutoff is around 3,000 for the free practices, which will conclude with a final 45 minutes or more held in that new $20 million air-conditioned facility, which opened last year. The high demand for free tickets explains why some NFL teams are able to even charge fans for access to training camp.

There also will be a limited number of non-guaranteed spots on the days open to the general public for fans who weren't able to get tickets, much like flying standby with a commercial airline.

The Bucs have designated nine other practices as open to exclusive groups, with one for season-ticket members and others for luxury suite and Stadium Club ticket holders, along with a military appreciation day and five others designated for small private groups.

Bucs rookies report for training camp on Monday and veterans on Wednesday, with the first practice set for a week from today and the first available to fans set for July 28, a session reserved for current and retired military personnel and their families.