Professional sports have a long and storied history in Greater Tampa Bay. In fact, pro teams have called the region home for more than 100 years.
The Chicago Cubs moved their spring training from New Orleans to Tampa way back in 1913. The bay area has been home to an MLB team every year since — except for 1943-1945, when World War II prohibited teams from traveling south for spring training. The Florida State League was created in 1919 with six minor league teams. The first championship came that year with the Bartow Polkers.
In 1926, Olympic Gold medalist, MLB Champion and NFL Hall-of-Famer Jim Thorpe led the Tampa Cardinals in an exhibition game against the Chicago Bears and their rookie Red Grange at Plant Field.
Today, the region is home to three major professional franchises, five minor league baseball franchises, one soccer franchise and one football franchise.
Local pro teams have played a record-setting number of championship games since 2020. This includes the Buccaneers’ win in the Super Bowl in 2021, the Lightning winning the NHL Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, The Rays winning the AL Pennant and playing in the World Series in 2020, the Tampa Bay Rowdies USL Championship in 2020, the Bradenton Marauders’ Low-A Southeast League Title and the Lakeland Magic in the NBA-D League in 2021.
GTB is also home to many major sporting events. There have been five Super Bowls in Tampa, with the Buccaneers becoming the first team in 2021 to ever win the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Tropicana Field hosted the World Series in 2008 and 2021. Stanley Cups Finals came to Tampa in 2004, 2015 and 2021 — and 2020 was in Canada due to Covid protocols. The Valspar Championship is held at the Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in Palm Harbor every year, and TPC Tampa Bay is host to 21 consecutive Champions Tour events.
On the Lineup
Major League Teams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — NFL
- Founded 1976
- Championships — 2002, 2021
- Tampa Bay Lightning — NHL
- Founded 1992
- Championships — 2004, 2020, 2021
- Tampa Bay Rays — MLB
- Founded 1998
- Championships — Al Pennant 2008, 2020
Minor League Teams
- Tampa Bay Rowdies — USL
- Founded 2008, originally founded 1975
- Championships — 2012, 2020
- Clearwater Thrashers (Phillies) — MiLB
- Founded 1985
- Championships — 1993, 2007
- Dunedin Blue Jays — MiLB
- Founded 1987
- Championships — 2017
- Bradenton Marauders (Pirates) — MiLB
- Founded 2010
- Championships — 2016, 2021
- Tampa Tarpons (Yankees) — MiLB
- Founded 1994
- Championships — 1994, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010
- Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers) — MiLB
- Founded 1963
- Championships — 1976, 1977, 1992, 2012
- Lakeland Magic — NBA-D League
- Founded 2017
- Championships — 2021
Defunct Teams
- Tampa Smokers — MiLB
- Active 1919-1932, 1946-1954
- Championships — four
- St. Petersburg Saints — MiLB
- Active 1947-2000
- Championships — eight
- Tampa Bay Rowdies (original) — NASL, AISL
- Active 1975-1993
- Championships — four
- Tampa Bay Bandits — USFL
- Active 1983-1985
- Championships — 0
- Tampa Bay Storm — AFL
- Active 1991-2017
- Championships — five
- Tampa Bay Mutiny — MLS
- Active 1995-2001
- Championships — one
- Tampa Bay Thrillers — CBA
- Active 1987-1990
- Championships — three
1. Touchdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium
Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by arguably the GOAT Tom Brady, play their home games at the “Ray Jay,” Raymond James Stadium. Opened in 1998, the Ray Jay’s capacity is 65,890.
The cannon fire will roar with every TB touchdown — TB for both Tampa Bay and Tom Brady, of course — as these current champions look to head back for Super Bowl LVI. With two Lombardi trophies already — the first obtained in their Super Bowl XXXVII win over Oakland — the Bucs can join only nine other teams in achieving a third.
Fan Fun
Aside from the excitement of a major game, fans love going to Raymond James Stadium. It has been called the crown jewel of NFL stadiums, and for good reason. There are 12,000 club seats and 195 suites to choose from, and behind the north end zone, the infamous Buccaneers Cove is complete with a 103-foot-long pirate ship replica.
It is common for fans to dress up in their Captain Jack best for a game. For those who do not have any Bucs gear yet, there are plenty of vendors and team shops in the two-story fishing village within the cove.
With any great football game, excellent food is a must, and every palate will be satiated at Raymond James Stadium. From a veggie Cuban sandwich, to a Tampa roll, all the way to pizza box nachos, it will not be a problem finding something that floats everybody’s pirate boat.
For information on how to get on the waitlist, visit buccaneers.com.
2. Back-to-back…to back? with the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena
The hottest team in professional sports plays their games on the frozen pond at Amalie Arena. Winners of the Stanley Cup for two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021, the Lightning are skating their way to competing for the magical three-peat in 2022. The season comes to an exciting close in late spring/summer. This has only happened five times in hockey history, most recently in 1983.
Fan Fun
A Tampa Bay Lightning game is something locals must experience. To say that the atmosphere is electrifying is an understatement, and there really is not a bad seat in the house. The arena’s cool lightning effect, generated by Tesla coils above the arena, is a truly unique sensory experience. It is like sitting below a thunderstorm indoors, and it is in an incredible addition for fans.
The team has also launched its Backing the Bay program, which donates $50,000 in grants to minority-owned businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch for announcements about the Lightning’s annual Bolts Family Carnival, where attendees can interact with players and play carnival games, with all proceeds going to charity. The Tampa Bay Lightning also hosts the free Fan Fest, Coops Catch for Kids and the annual Bolt Run, a family fun run through downtown Tampa.
Ready to hit the ice? Visit nhl.com/lightning.
3. Play ball with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field
The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the hottest teams in baseball, winning the American League East each of the last two seasons and the AL Pennant in 2020. In 2021, they were even hotter during the regular season, finishing with the most wins in the American League. The Rays are in the top four for wins in the last 10 years.
The Tampa Bay Rays have one of the youngest teams in baseball, led by AL Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena, Wunderkid Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe. Catching a game at the Trop is a must-do.
Fan Fun
At Tropicana Field, popularly known as the Trop, even the cheap seats will give fans an enjoyable view of the game. The domed stadium eliminates the need to sit outside and bake in the Florida sun for nine innings.
The Trop offers much more than just baseball and hot dogs, too. Make sure to check out the ray tank behind the right center field fence. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsors the 10,000-gallon touch-tank full of stingrays, which recently reopened.
“After an exhilarating 2020 season and run to the World Series with fans cheering us on from afar, we were thrilled to welcome people back to the ballpark,” said Rays President Brian Auld. “Baseball is a unifier, and with more than a year of loss, isolation and uncertainty behind us all, it’s a great gift to be able to bring people together at games at Tropicana Field.”
Of course, food is always an important part of any baseball game. Fans can treat themselves to a cold treat like the Cracker Jack-rimmed milkshake –– booze can be added for those of drinking age –– and sushi bowls, shrimp and calamari in a waffle cone, all of which can be ordered on the MLB Ballpark app so there is no need to stand in line and miss the action.
Grab a mitt and get ready to catch a homer with the Rays. To purchase tickets, visit mlb.com/rays.
4. Get your soccer on with the Tampa Bay Rowdies
Once upon a time…before there were Buccaneers, Lightning or Rays winning championships…Tampa Bay was a soccer town. With its own hit song, “A Kick in the Grass,” blaring from the speakers, the Rowdies averaged more than 12,000 fans per game and a record match with 56,000 in attendance in 1980. The original iteration of the team played from 1975 to 1993 in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.
The Rowdies have been part of the USL Championship since 2017 and play at the Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. Founded in 2008, the Rowdies won the League Championship in 2012 and had the best record in the league in both 2020 and 2021. After a historic and record-breaking 2021 season led by returning captain and top goal-scorer Sebastian Guenzatti, the Rowdies will kick off their 34-game schedule March 13 against Birmingham Legion FC.
Fan Fun
A Rowdies game is a great –– and affordable –– way to spend a summer night. Tickets start between $10 and $15, with sideline seats ranging from $20-$50, and club seats escalate in price up to $200. This sporting event is perfect for fans who are looking for a smaller event with hundreds, not thousands, of other spectators.
The grandstand faces southeast, which not only provides a great view of the game, but a gorgeous look at the St. Pete harbor. The stadium underwent a huge renovation in 2015, replacing all of the grandstand seats and refreshing fan areas. Speaking of refreshing, do not worry about the heat –– the stadium is located right on the water, which gives off a cool, ocean breeze. Fireworks follow every single home game.
Ralph’s Mob is the original independent supporters’ group of the Rowdies. Keeping the energy and atmosphere electric for a full 90 minutes, fans can see members of Ralph’s Mob waving flags, standing and singing the entire match.
Snag tickets to a Tampa Bay Rowdies game at rowdiessoccer.com.
5. Take to the minors with the Tampa Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field
One of the best things about Minor League Baseball games, aside from saving a few bucks, is the chance to see the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow play ball. Not only that, but minor league games are designed with families in mind.
The Tampa Tarpons –– a tarpon is big ol’ gamefish, by the way –– were established back in 1994 as the Tampa Yankees. The team is a Low-A affiliate of the New York Yankees and was renamed in 2018. They are pretty darn good, too.
Since their inception, the Tarpons won five Florida State League championship titles and have been the home team to future champions, such as Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera and current star Aaron Judge. Capping off the 2021 season with a division title, it is safe to say that their record speaks for itself.
Fan Fun
The Tarpons play at George M. Steinbrenner field, also the spring training home for the Yankees, and its reputation precedes itself. Reviews at tripadvisor.com call it a “truly world-class organization” with “no bad seats in the house.” The stadium itself is designed with elements of the old and new Yankee stadiums in mind.
For fans with baseball-playing kids, the Tarpons offer the Baseball Buddies program, as well as summer camps for youth players. The team also has special events including Father’s Day brunch and Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark night: For just an extra $2, guests can bring a furry friend to a game on Tuesday nights throughout the summer.
In January 2022, the Tarpons made history by announcing that Rachel Balkovec will be the first woman to manage a minor league team affiliated with Major League Baseball.
To score tickets to an upcoming Tarpons game, visit milb.com/tampa and check out the special events.
By Scott Costello and Jen Clark
