Yahoo Finance Bucs cannons to fire 'long and loud' if they win, but remain silent during Super Bowl
Sunday’s Super Bowl will be unique in more ways than one.
Besides managing all the COVID-19-related adjustments, the NFL is hosting the first Super Bowl ever played in a participant’s home stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face some obvious advantages over the Kansas City Chiefs by not having to travel to the game.
So, what about the pirate cannons?
But the league is intent on maintaining the neutrality of Raymond James Stadium, even as the Bucs’ pirate ship looms large over the Chiefs end zone. NFL senior vice president Michael Signora told The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud on Tuesday that the cannon fire that normally exudes from the ship to commemorate Bucs scores will remain silent during the game.
But if the Bucs win? All bets are off. At least when it comes to simulated cannon fodder. In that case, Signora told Stroud that the cannons will fire “long and loud” after the game.
He also said that the cannons will be fired during pregame introductions. Could that be construed as some sort of unfair advantage? It’s a stretch, assuming they’ll fire for both teams.
Bucs statement on cannons
Either way, the Bucs released a statement to let everybody know they have no intention of infringing on the neutrality of the Super Bowl.
“The firing of the cannons after big plays is a tradition that defines what it means to be a Buccaneer fan and serves as a signature element of our home game experience at Raymond James Stadium,” the statement read. “However, we also acknowledge and understand the NFL’s position with regards to maintaining the integrity of a neutral site atmosphere for Super Bowl LV.”
So the Bucs are understanding. But they seem a little bit disappointed they can’t get away with their normal cannon blasts. And who can blame them?
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