Buccaneers fans to become Sports Illustrated covers under new partnership

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have partnered with Sports Illustrated Tickets as their official fan experience partner, bringing a new technology-driven activation to Raymond James Stadium as the NFL franchise looks to deepen fan engagement on gameday.

The partnership will introduce Faces in the Crowd to the Buccaneers during their 2026 home opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 20. The activation will use strategically positioned 4K cameras throughout the stadium to capture fans during key moments of the game, creating personalised content that supporters can take home as a digital keepsake.

Fans selected through the activation will receive a complimentary Sports Illustrated Fan Cover featuring their image, alongside a commemorative game ticket. The initiative extends Sports Illustrated’s legacy of documenting the people and moments that define sport into the live stadium environment, putting fans themselves at the centre of the storytelling.

Joe Flores, CMO of Sports Illustrated Tickets, said, “Sports Illustrated has a rich history of capturing the people, passion and moments that make sports unforgettable. Through Faces in the Crowd, we’re bringing that legacy directly to fans and giving them the opportunity to become part of the Sports Illustrated story. We’re thrilled to expand this experience across the NFL through our partnership with the Buccaneers and celebrate the fans who make gameday at Raymond James Stadium so special.”

Buccaneers Chief Commercial Officer Atul Khosla added, “We are always looking for new ways to enhance the gameday experience and create memorable moments for our fans. Sports Illustrated Tickets’ Faces in the Crowd gives fans a unique way to capture their gameday experience and turn it into a lasting keepsake that celebrates their connection to the Buccaneers.”

The Buccaneers will also provide Sports Illustrated Tickets with in-stadium branding and promotional exposure, including LED signage and other high-visibility placements across the venue.

The Faces in the Crowd technology is powered by Momento, a fan-engagement technology company specialising in high-resolution image capture at live sporting events. The platform is being rolled out across Sports Illustrated Tickets’ wider portfolio of sports partnerships.

Faces in the Crowd is scheduled to feature across 10 stadiums in the US and Europe during the 2026 season, including six NFL venues.

The partnership highlights the growing shift among sports properties and commercial partners towards experiential activations that combine technology, content and fan participation, rather than relying solely on traditional branding and signage.