Buccaneers announce open practice dates in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hold 13 open-to-the-public practices during training camp at One Buccaneer Place this year, the team announced Tuesday.

Rookies are scheduled to report July 25 and veterans arrive July 27. The first full training camp workout is scheduled for the following day, July 28. That workout is also the first public workout.

Because of the summer heat, fans who want to attend the practice session will have to set an early alarm clock. The first-day workout — and 12 of the 13 open practices overall — are scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. and wrap up by 10:50 a.m. at the latest. Five of the 13 practices will be held on weekend mornings.

“This year’s training camp is one of the most anticipated in recent memory and with 13 practices open to the public, our fans will have plenty of opportunities to come out and be part of the excitement,” Buccaneers chief operating officer Brian Ford said in a statement. “We are thrilled that our fans will continue to have the same great access to our players and coaches that they have enjoyed over the years.”

The first four workouts will be open to the public, in some manner. The workouts from July 28 through July 30 will be open to the public. The workout on July 31 is Military Appreciation Day, which will be open exclusively to members of the military. In addition to Military Appreciation Day, the Buccaneers have scheduled two Members exclusive practice days, Aug. 3 and Aug. 8. Those dates are open to season-ticket holders only.

The other open-to-the-public sessions are Aug. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24. Aug. 19 is the one practice scheduled to start later in the morning at 9:45 a.m.

Tampa Bay begins the preseason Aug. 11 against the Bengals.

The Buccaneers are scheduled to be the subject of HBO’s series “Hard Knocks” this summer.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Buccaneers announce open practice dates in Tampa."