Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa: What To Know Before You Go
Get ready for one of the wildest events in Tampa history! The Red Bull Flugtag is making its return to Tampa this weekend on November 9 at the Tampa Convention Center. It’s been 13 years since Tampa has hosted this wacky event. Team submissions have all been approved. Want to see all the action up close? It will be pretty similar vibe as getting to Gasparilla early to see the pirate invasion. There are expected to be over 100,000 spectators to watch these teams attempt to launch homemade aircrafts off a 27-foot flight deck.
The 40 teams of five will be judged on the design of their craft, creativity of their pre-flight skit, and the distance of their flight. The winners not only win bragging rights from this awesome event, they’ll win exclusive Red Bull experiences, meet-and-greets with Red Bull athletes, and more. Tampa royalties Andrei Vasilevskiy, Derrick Brooks, and more will be judging the each team.
This will be the third Red Bull Flugtag held in Tampa. The last two occurred in 2008 and 2011. Team Tampa Bay Watch (2008) and Willy Wonka’s Amazing Flying Flugtag Adventure (2011) were the past winners and were comprised of the same teammates.
What To Know Before Spectating At The Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa
The first thing you should know about spectating at the Red Bull Flugtag events is that they are insanely packed! Downtown Tampa will look very similar to Gasparilla with the amount of people heading there to watch the flying attempts. So if you do want to check out the madness, we suggest getting there early as possible.
When Should You Get To The Convention Center?
“Doors” for this event open at 12pm, so if you want a good spot by the convention center, we recommend getting there as early as 11a, even earlier if you’re determined for that front row view.
Warm ups will begin at 12:30 and the competition begins at 1pm with the first flight scheduled to take off at 1:10. There will be about 30 teams competing, so they expect flights to last till about 3:45. Then the awards will be handed out at 4pm.
What Can You Bring To The Red Bull Flugtag Event?
You might want to bring some portable chairs or blankets for sitting, as this is an all-day event. Umbrellas might be handy in case of rain, or if you need some shade. Baby strollers, sealed water bottles, empty Camelbak’s and regular-sized backpacks are all okay to bring with you. There will be free water refill stations onsite! And don’t forget your camera to take some awesome in-flight photos. No drones, glass containers, food, tents or pets are allowed.
Are There Other Viewing Spots?
As you can imagine, the Tampa Convention Center will probably fill up quickly with spectators. If you get there too late and need another viewing spot, we suggest heading over to Bayshore across the Columbus Statue Park, or maybe even head to American Social or Jacksons and get brunch and a show! Just like our boat parades, you can also view from the water if you have a boat, jet ski, or kayak/paddleboard. If you have any other suggestions on what might make a good viewing spot, feel free to shout it out on our social media!
Where Should I Park?
The convention center parking garage is located at 141 E. Brorein Street, but we think it will fill up fast so here are some alternative options:
Fort Brooke Parking Garage – located at 107 N. Franklin Street, 0.3 miles from the Tampa Convention Center. Walk or take the free TECO Line Streetcar to Dick Greco Plaza Station. Or you can park in Ybor and take the free TECO Line Streetcar to Dick Greco Plaza Station
Will there be food?
Food and drink will be available for purchase at The Sail bar and Big Ray’s Fish Camp Riverwalk, as well as at pop-up concession stations along the Tampa Riverwalk and on the first floor of the Tampa Convention Center.
For more event day info on the Red Bull Flugtag in Tampa, click here.
