Welcome to Champa Bay

For more than a century, Greater Tampa Bay has been home to a winning pro sports scene.

By Dylan Berman

Greater Tampa Bay is home to countless great restaurants, fun experiences, culture landmarks and a plethora of things to do. The checklist of fun experiences waiting to be had is not complete until cheering on the local sports team is checked off. Whether it is taking on the Florida heat to watch the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a part of the United Soccer League, or heading inside Amelie Arena to see the Tampa Bay Lightning players skate across the rink to score the winning goal, there is no shortage of sporting events in GTB.

Catch the Rays at Tropicana Field

Guests line up at Tropicana Field, the only stadium in the league with a year-around dome, in hopes of watching the Tampa Bay Rays make history yet again in the American League East Division. With the Rays named first place champions in 2020 and 2021, and wild card team in 2022 and 2023, it would come as no surprise. The atmosphere at the stadium during one of the Tampa Bay Rays games can only be described as exhilarating. Being a part of the American League East Division, means regularly taking on the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, practically ensuring there is no such thing as a boring game at Tropicana Field.

Fire the Cannons for the Buccaneers

Nothing is quite as entertaining as watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers steal the game at Raymond James Stadium. Competing in the National Football League as a part of the NFC South division, Buccaneers games are a cannot-miss event for sports fans in GTB. Being a Buccs fan comes with perks– other than serving as a Sunday distraction from the upcoming work week. That includes the right to brag about being the only NFL team to have won the Super Bowl while playing in their home stadium. Not only did the Buccaneers win the 2020 Super Bowl, but they also maintained an impressive defensive game. Their captivating defensive style still keeps watchers on the edge of their seats. With Todd Bowles as the team’s head coach, there will certainly be plenty of jaw dropping games for GTB locals and visitors to enjoy in the years to come.

Bolt Over to Amalie Arena

Those who prefer sports played on ice instead of grass, may find cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team to be more their speed. Lightning games are constantly filled with high-energy supporters and roaring crowds, excited to watch their team take on any opponent. Playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, their competition has ranged from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Nashville Predators. Coming in third place in the 2022/2023 season, making it to the playoffs in 2020 and winning the Stanley Cup in 2021, the Bolts have certainly set a high bar for performance. Their impressive streak of winning 11 straight playoff games from 2020 to 2022 only adds to the team’s consistent glory. In 2022, the Tampa Bay Lightning team even ventured outdoors when they took on the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium in the Stanley Cup finals. Although the Lightning did not win the Stanley Cup that year, the team has a remarkable history and a promising future with their general manager Julien BriseBois at the helm.

Kick It with The Rowdies

Leave the cold fort that is Amalie Arena to watch the Tampa Bay Rowdies play at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. While there, visitors should check out the waterfront views for stunning pictures before and after the game. However, the main attraction of coming to St. Petersburg is to watch the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who have truly stood out from the crowd through the last few seasons. The Rowdies came in first overall in the 2021 season, fourth in 2022 and third in 2023. With a track record like this and their current head coach Neil Collins, the results of future seasons are bound to be impressive. The spirited and fun atmosphere of these games makes going to a Rowdies game an unforgettable experience.

From watching the Lightning take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena, excitedly anticipating the next moves of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, cheering on the Tampa Bay Rowdies or enjoying the electric atmosphere of a Rays game, there is clearly a variety of sports for Greater Tampa Bay natives and visitors to cheer for.