Bucs host 2009 Fan Fest

TAMPA - It's a new direction for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, Alex Smith, Jeff Garcia, Ike Hillard, and Jon Gruden are all gone.

"I guess it's sort of a rebuilding, but that happens in order to bring a team to win a championship," says Bucs fan Christian Graham. He and his 3-year-old son spent the afternoon at the Bucs Fan Fest, the first public event since the club decided to release several popular players.

"Getting rid of all those key players, what they did to Brooks broke my heart. He should have been able to finish his career here."

Buccaneer ownership says they are heading in a new direction. That includes the sales department. For years, the Bucs had a lengthy waiting list for season tickets...but not any more. Now, the team is offering several ticket options targeting the average fan.

"This is the first time I can actually afford them," Bucs fan Michael Daniels says.  "I just told my aunt, you don't have to put a seat deposit this year and there are payment plans so we can do payments, so I'm going to go ahead and get them."

For the first time in years, thousands of tickets are available. Bucs General Manager Mark Dominik says the economy has forced the team to change game day pricing.

"There is a package for just about anybody," Dominik says. "There is a five-game package where you get a chance to come see not only your home team Buccaneers, which we're excited about, but they get to play great competition."

Buccaneer season tickets start at six hundred and fifteen dollars.