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Here’s what you’ll be eating at the next Bucs game

Ropa vieja tacos, prime rib-topped nachos and cannoli cupcakes are all on the menu at Raymond James Stadium this season.
 
The Land and Sea Burger, the Rope Vieja Grilled Cheese and the Pizza Box Nachos are some of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa.
The Land and Sea Burger, the Rope Vieja Grilled Cheese and the Pizza Box Nachos are some of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]
Published Sept. 5, 2019|Updated Sept. 6, 2019

TAMPA ― Smoked brisket sandwiches. Ropa vieja grilled cheese. Red Velvet cannoli cupcakes.

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers previewed the brand new food lineup for the 2019 season and it’s a far cry from pretzels, hot dogs and light beer.

The new menu, under the helm of New York-based hospitality group Legends, will debut this Sunday, when the Buccaneers play the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium.

In the spring, Buccaneers management announced a multi-year deal with the new concession operator, which also runs food service at stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Yankees. The team’s owners in January ended a contract with the global food service giant Aramark, which had worked with the Buccaneers since 2013.

The Veggie Cuban Sandwich is one of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]

The move marks a significant shift for the stadium and team as operators look to attract an increasingly food-conscious demographic with a growing interest in higher quality dishes, local ingredients and healthier dining options.

“We’re always looking for a way to enhance the game day experience for our fans,'' said Brian Ford, the Buccaneers’ chief operating officer, who said the new menu includes a more expansive selection for game day guests.

Prices for season ticket holders will be a few dollars cheaper on all items and regular concessions like sodas and popcorn will be similar to last year’s said Nelson Luis, the vice president of communications for the Buccaneers. Comparing prices for the new items to dishes on last year’s menu is like comparing “apples and oranges," he said. “We didn’t have anything like these items last year."

Fast and efficient service — making sure that fans don’t have to wait in line for too long — will also be an integral part of the new partnership, Ford said.

To design the new menu, dubbed the Local Eats initiative, Legends senior executive chef Jason Choate looked to the Tampa Bay region for inspiration.

Several dishes carry a clear Cuban influence, like a classic Cuban sandwich served with plantain chips, or the ropa vieja grilled cheese, served on La Segunda’s Cuban bread and paired with sharp cheddar cheese, braised beef, peppers and onions. The shredded beef dish is also served in tacos ($16 for 3), which come on either flour or corn tortillas filled with pulled chicken or a vegetarian version with squash, cotija cheese and pico de gallo.

The Land and Sea Burger served with a side of fries is one of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]

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Part of the company’s local focus includes bringing in Tampa Bay restaurants to both run their own stands or contribute to dishes on the new menu; some of these include PDQ, RumFish Grill and Alessi Bakery, whose cupcakes and cake slices will be sold at the Sugar Sail stand.

Seafood and fish options include the Land & Sea burger ($17), which features the Legends signature beef patty — a chuck, short rib and brisket blend topped with crispy-fried shrimp and slaw. A New England-inspired Tampa Roll comes filled with a krab (the k means faux-crab) and shrimp salad medley served on a split top roll sidling kettle chips.

Faced with an increasingly diverse demographic of diners with dietary restrictions and a more health-conscious clientele, Choate said his team has created several vegetarian and vegan options, like vegan sushi, a vegetarian Cuban made with roasted vegetables, Swiss cheese and mustard sauce and Impossible burger patties and meatballs. Guests can also opt for gluten-free buns with both hamburgers and hot dogs.

Overall, the menu doesn’t stray too far into health-food territory, and the spruced-up stadium favorites are likely to get the most traction, including a Roman-style pepperoni pizza, served in thick, cheesy squares, and the enormous “Pizza Box Nachos,”($16) which arrive in a 10-inch pizza box topped with roasted prime rib, queso, olives, jalapenos, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.

The Pizza Box Nachos are one of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]

The Buccaneers’ leadership is also bringing back the Celebrity Chef Showcase, which debuted last fall and features a visiting guest chef for every home game. The visiting chefs will prepare one of their signature dishes to be sold at four different concession stands, including both Taste of Tampa booths.

To kick off the season’s inaugural game Sunday, chef Gino Tiozzo of Donatello Italian Restaurant will be serving a fracosta de manzo — sauteed sirloin steak, sweet peppers, mushrooms, olives and tomatoes in a toasted French roll for $16.

That’s certainly a step up from the usual game-day fare.

The Tampa Roll (left) and the Turkey and Pastrami Sandwich are two of the new food items debuting for the 2019 football season at Raymond James Stadium, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 in Tampa. [ MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times ]

Correction: Legends is a partner with the New York Yankees. An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect team.