Living in Tampa for 25 years, I know Tampa like the back of my hand. Depending on how long you are staying in Tampa, you would want to rent a car. Tampa area is so spread out that if you are staying more than a couple of days, you will want to explore the area a little bit by car and not by taxi. Only way to get around town without a car is taxi. As we do not have a very good transit system.
As far as game day parking, if you take your car, you want to enter from the north end area of the stadium. I live about ten/fifteen minutes north of the stadium and access to Ray Jay is much easier then traveling from the south end. They will be closing down Dale Mabry, MLK, Himes and Tampa Bay Blvd the day before the game. This is huge for this area. It will cause a serious clusterfuck, especially if you are not familiar with the area. So, whatever you do if you choose rental car, please get to the stadium by going south on Dale Mabry from the Carrollwood area. "DO NOT" goto stadium via south then north. There are plenty of places to park on the side streets which I totally trust as I have been parking on the side streets for the past 5/6 years. As a matter of fact, I will be working the club level behind the bar and will be parking my car just north of the stadium, but have to have someone take me to the airport to get checked in and bussed in. So, after I am finished I walk ten minutes to my car and drive 15 minutes north to my house.
Please be aware as well, if you are staying near the Hard Rock, this place will be jammed fucking packed to the gill. They serve the bar til 6am and the place is not really big to be holding all the people they are expecting, just for your fyi. The best place to be if you have no access to parties, imo for Friday and Saturday nights will be the Channelside District in downtown Tampa, alot of things going on {this being said, alot of things going in this town} within a five to ten minute walk and a five minute trolley to Ybor City. But, be forwarned about Ybor, you go there, stay in a very visable areas and not on the dark back streets. Unfortunately Ybor is surrounded by on two sides of not so good neighborhoods. But, city of Tampa, I guarentee will be out in droves.
For day time ventures, beaches are awesome, just do not goto Clearwater Beach, this is most over hyped tourist trap that no locals hardly goto. If you want to goto beach, goto St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island or John's Pass area. All of those beaches are in the Southern part of Pinellas County. About a 45 minute/1 hour drive from where you may be. Orlando is also about a 45 minute/ 1 hour drive as well. Lots to do in Orlando.
Good Luck!!!! I will answer any questions that you may have. One last note the St. Pete Times Fourum, located in the Channelside District will also be jamming. Eagles concert on Thursday, Lightning vs Flyers hockey on Friday, Dane Cook Live on Saturday. Across from Forum, Snoop Dog in concert on Friday and Three Doors Down Concert on Saturday at Bud Bowl.
Have a blast....weather is to be in the mid 70's for the day with the lows to be in the mid 50's. IMO perfect fucking Super Bowl weather for Tampa.
