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While most of the Buccaneers’ time to celebrate their Super Bowl LV victory has passed, there will be a couple more big events for the team to enjoy this coming week, just before training camp gets underway next Sunday.
It was reported last month that the team will receive its championship rings at a private ceremony on Thursday, July 22. That still looks to be the one final hurrah for everyone before the grind of a new season begins a few days later.
But now, it sounds like Tampa Bay’s players, coaches and staff may have another cause for celebration two days before the ring ceremony. That’s because, as The Athletic’s Greg Auman tweeted Friday, the Super Bowl LV champions look to be taking their visit to the White House this week:
Looks like the Bucs will be able to visit the White House as Super Bowl champs, and it could be as soon as this coming week. Details and logistics are still being finalized, but looks like Tuesday.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 16, 2021
As Auman tweeted, details and logistics are still being worked out for the visit, but it would appear that the team will be headed to the nation’s capital on Tuesday. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times had some additional information, tweeting that the team would fly up for the White House visit on Tuesday morning and return to Tampa that same afternoon.
Details are still being worked out, but the Bucs are expected to visit the White House as Super Bowl champions Tuesday morning. They will return to Tampa later that afternoon. Super Bowl ring ceremony is Thursday.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 16, 2021
Stroud also tweeted out an interesting note, saying that this would be the first time a Tampa Bay team would get to visit the White House.
This would be the first world championship team from Tampa Bay to visit the White House. The invasion in Iraq prevented the Bucs SB 37 team from visiting. The NHL had a lockout in the 2004-05 season. Last year when the Lightning won, there was the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/mI0MhMAAk1
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 16, 2021
While it is standard for championship teams to visit Washington, D.C., the 2002 Bucs were unable to do so because of the invasion in Iraq and the 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t get to make the trip because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With things starting to get closer to normal again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lightning follow the Bucs in visiting President Joe Biden at some point this year after winning a second straight Stanley Cup.
So, before the Bucs turn the page to the 2021 season next Sunday at the AdventHealth Training Center, they’ll get to enjoy their 2020 success for a little bit longer. And they sure do deserve that privilege.