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href="#Baseball"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Baseball</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Baseball-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Baseball subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Baseball-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Rays" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Bay_Rays"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Tampa Bay Rays</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Rays-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Spring_training_and_minor_leagues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Spring_training_and_minor_leagues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Spring training and minor leagues</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Spring_training_and_minor_leagues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Historical_teams" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Historical_teams"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2.1</span> <span>Historical teams</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Historical_teams-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Hockey" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Hockey"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Hockey</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Hockey-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-College_sports" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#College_sports"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>College sports</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-College_sports-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle College sports subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-College_sports-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-University_of_South_Florida" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#University_of_South_Florida"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>University of South Florida</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-University_of_South_Florida-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-University_of_Tampa" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#University_of_Tampa"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>University of Tampa</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-University_of_Tampa-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Saint_Leo_University" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Saint_Leo_University"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.3</span> <span>Saint Leo University</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Saint_Leo_University-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eckerd_College" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eckerd_College"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.4</span> <span>Eckerd College</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eckerd_College-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notable_minor_league_sports" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notable_minor_league_sports"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Notable minor league sports</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Notable_minor_league_sports-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Notable minor league sports subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Notable_minor_league_sports-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Soccer" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Soccer"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Soccer</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Soccer-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Basketball" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Basketball"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Basketball</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Basketball-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_minor_league_sports" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_minor_league_sports"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Other minor league sports</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_minor_league_sports-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Defunct_major_sports_franchises" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Defunct_major_sports_franchises"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Defunct major sports franchises</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Defunct_major_sports_franchises-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Defunct major sports franchises subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Defunct_major_sports_franchises-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Bay_Rowdies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.1</span> <span>Tampa Bay Rowdies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Rowdies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Bandits" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Bay_Bandits"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.2</span> <span>Tampa Bay Bandits</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Bandits-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Mutiny" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Bay_Mutiny"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.3</span> <span>Tampa Bay Mutiny</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Mutiny-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Storm" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Bay_Storm"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.4</span> <span>Tampa Bay Storm</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Bay_Storm-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_defunct_teams" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_defunct_teams"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.5</span> <span>Other defunct teams</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_defunct_teams-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Major_championship_events_hosted_in_Tampa_Bay" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Major_championship_events_hosted_in_Tampa_Bay"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Major championship events hosted in Tampa Bay</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Major_championship_events_hosted_in_Tampa_Bay-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Major championship events hosted in Tampa Bay subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Major_championship_events_hosted_in_Tampa_Bay-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Other_events" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_events"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.1</span> <span>Other events</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_events-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Current_venues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Current_venues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Current venues</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Current_venues-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Current venues subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Current_venues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Raymond_James_Stadium" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Raymond_James_Stadium"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.1</span> <span>Raymond James Stadium</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Raymond_James_Stadium-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Amalie_Arena" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Amalie_Arena"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.2</span> <span>Amalie Arena</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Amalie_Arena-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tropicana_Field" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tropicana_Field"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.3</span> <span>Tropicana Field</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tropicana_Field-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Al_Lang_Stadium" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Al_Lang_Stadium"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.4</span> <span>Al Lang Stadium</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Al_Lang_Stadium-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Yuengling_Center" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Yuengling_Center"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.5</span> <span>Yuengling Center</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Yuengling_Center-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Historical_venues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Historical_venues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>Historical venues</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Historical_venues-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Historical venues subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Historical_venues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Tampa_Stadium" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tampa_Stadium"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.1</span> <span>Tampa Stadium</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tampa_Stadium-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Al_López_Field" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Al_López_Field"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.2</span> <span>Al López Field</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Al_López_Field-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Plant_Field" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Plant_Field"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.3</span> <span>Plant Field</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Plant_Field-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Phillips_Field" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Phillips_Field"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.4</span> <span>Phillips Field</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Phillips_Field-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Curtis_Hixon_Hall" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Curtis_Hixon_Hall"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.5</span> <span>Curtis Hixon Hall</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Curtis_Hixon_Hall-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bayfront_Center" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bayfront_Center"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.6</span> <span>Bayfront Center</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bayfront_Center-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">13</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">14</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" 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Bay area</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Welcome_To_Tampa.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Welcome_To_Tampa.jpg/220px-Welcome_To_Tampa.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Welcome_To_Tampa.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="263" data-file-height="150" /></a><figcaption>A road sign celebrating some of Tampa's sporting success. These signs can be seen in multiple places around the city.</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_area" title="Tampa Bay area">Tampa Bay area</a> is home to many sports teams and has a substantial history of sporting activity. Most of the region's professional sports franchises use the name "Tampa Bay", which is the name of a <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay" title="Tampa Bay">body of water</a>, not of any city. This is to emphasize that they represent the wider <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_area" title="Metropolitan area">metropolitan area</a> and not a particular municipality and was a tradition started by Tampa's first major sports team, the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%931993)" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)">original Tampa Bay Rowdies</a>, when they were founded in 1975. </p><p>Tampa currently has three franchises competing in the four <a href="/wiki/Major_professional_sports_leagues_in_the_United_States_and_Canada" title="Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada">major Northern American leagues</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> play in the <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">National Football League</a> (NFL), the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> play in the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a> (NHL), and the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> play in <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a> (MLB). Additionally, six MLB teams hold their <a href="/wiki/Spring_training" title="Spring training">spring training</a> camps in the area. </p><p>A number of <a href="/wiki/Minor_league" title="Minor league">minor league</a> franchises play in the region as well, including the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> of the <a href="/wiki/USL_Championship" title="USL Championship">USL Championship</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Sun_FC" title="Tampa Bay Sun FC">Tampa Bay Sun FC</a> of the <a href="/wiki/USL_Super_League" title="USL Super League">USL Super League</a>, and five <a href="/wiki/Minor_league_baseball" class="mw-redirect" title="Minor league baseball">minor league baseball</a> teams competing in the <a href="/wiki/Single-A_(baseball)" class="mw-redirect" title="Single-A (baseball)">Single-A</a> <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a>. </p><p>In intercollegiate sports, the <a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a> <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls" title="South Florida Bulls">Bulls</a> compete in <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I" title="NCAA Division I">NCAA Division I</a>, while <a href="/wiki/Eckerd_College" title="Eckerd College">Eckerd College</a>, <a href="/wiki/Saint_Leo_University" title="Saint Leo University">Saint Leo University</a> and the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa</a> compete in <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a>. </p><p>Between September 2020 and July 2021 all three of Tampa Bay's major teams, as well as the Tampa Bay Rowdies, qualified for their sport's championship series at least once. The Lightning beat the Dallas Stars in the <a href="/wiki/2020_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2020 Stanley Cup Finals">2020 Stanley Cup Finals</a>, the Rays won the AL Pennant, that got them classified for the <a href="/wiki/2020_World_Series" title="2020 World Series">2020 World Series</a> which they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC were named co-league champions after the USL Championship game was canceled due to <a href="/wiki/COVID-19" title="COVID-19">COVID-19</a>, the Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a>, and the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens in the <a href="/wiki/2021_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2021 Stanley Cup Finals">2021 Stanley Cup Finals</a>. The success continued with the Rowdies winning the 2021 USL regular season title and reaching the <a href="/wiki/2021_USL_Championship_Playoffs" class="mw-redirect" title="2021 USL Championship Playoffs">2021 USL Championship game</a> and the Lightning reaching the <a href="/wiki/2022_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2022 Stanley Cup Finals">2022 Stanley Cup Finals</a>. This dynasty earned the area the nickname "<b>Champa Bay</b>" and the city was named the best sports city in the country by <a href="/wiki/Sports_Business_Journal" class="mw-redirect" title="Sports Business Journal">Sports Business Journal</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Traditions">Traditions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Traditions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id=""Tampa_Bay""><span id=".22Tampa_Bay.22"></span>"Tampa Bay"</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: "Tampa Bay""><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The name <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_area" title="Tampa Bay area">"Tampa Bay"</a> is often used to describe a geographic metropolitan area which encompasses the cities around the body of water known as <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay" title="Tampa Bay">Tampa Bay</a>, including <a href="/wiki/Tampa,_Florida" title="Tampa, Florida">Tampa</a>, <a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg,_Florida" title="St. Petersburg, Florida">St. Petersburg</a>, <a href="/wiki/Clearwater,_Florida" title="Clearwater, Florida">Clearwater</a> and several smaller cities. Unlike in the case of <a href="/wiki/Green_Bay,_Wisconsin" title="Green Bay, Wisconsin">Green Bay, Wisconsin</a>, there is no municipality known as "Tampa Bay", and the "Tampa Bay" in the names of local professional sports franchises, such as the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Buccaneers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Lightning</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Rays</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Rowdies</a>, and the former <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Storm" title="Tampa Bay Storm">Storm</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Mutiny" title="Tampa Bay Mutiny">Mutiny</a>, denotes that they represent the entire region, not just the city of Tampa. </p><p>Fans in the area have a popular call-and-response chant that goes beyond just sports and into everyday life. The leader of the chant yells "Tampa" and others respond with "Bay". At games, one side of the stadium or arena will yell each word. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Boat_parades">Boat parades</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Boat parades"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Since 2020, when a Tampa-based team is crowned as the champions of their league, the team will have a parade of boats down the <a href="/wiki/Hillsborough_River_(Florida)" title="Hillsborough River (Florida)">Hillsborough River</a> in <a href="/wiki/Downtown_Tampa" title="Downtown Tampa">Downtown Tampa</a> rather than a traditional <a href="/wiki/Victory_parade" title="Victory parade">victory parade</a> through the streets like in other cities. This started after the Lightning won the <a href="/wiki/2020_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2020 Stanley Cup Finals">2020 Stanley Cup</a> and the Buccaneers won <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a> as a way to celebrate the teams while remaining socially distant in the wake of the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, but was continued after the Lightning won the Stanley Cup again in <a href="/wiki/2021_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2021 Stanley Cup Finals">2021</a> even though COVID restrictions had been relaxed.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Major_professional_sports_teams">Major professional sports teams</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Major professional sports teams"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Current_teams">Current teams</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Current teams"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Team </th> <th>Founded </th> <th>Stadium </th> <th>League </th> <th>Championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> </td> <td>1976 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> </td> <td>2: <a href="/wiki/2002_NFL_season" title="2002 NFL season">2002</a> (<a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVII" title="Super Bowl XXXVII">XXXVII</a>), <a href="/wiki/2020_NFL_season" title="2020 NFL season">2020</a> (<a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">LV</a>)<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td>1992 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">NHL</a> </td> <td>3: <a href="/wiki/2004_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2004 Stanley Cup Finals">2004</a>, <a href="/wiki/2020_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2020 Stanley Cup Finals">2020</a>, <a href="/wiki/2021_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2021 Stanley Cup Finals">2021</a><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> </td> <td>1998 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">MLB</a> </td> <td>0 </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The Tampa Bay area has seen five championships among their three teams in the <a href="/wiki/Major_professional_sports_leagues_in_the_United_States_and_Canada" title="Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada">four major sports</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> won <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVII" title="Super Bowl XXXVII">Super Bowl XXXVII</a> in 2002 against the <a href="/wiki/Oakland_Raiders" title="Oakland Raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> by a score of 48–21 and <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a> in 2020 against the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a> by a score of 31–9. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> won the <a href="/wiki/2004_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2004 Stanley Cup Finals">2004 Stanley Cup Finals</a> by beating the <a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> in seven games, the <a href="/wiki/2020_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2020 Stanley Cup Finals">2020 Stanley Cup Finals</a> by beating the <a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> in six games, and the <a href="/wiki/2021_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2021 Stanley Cup Finals">2021 Stanley Cup Finals</a> by beating the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> in five games. The Bucs also reached the NFC Championship Game in the 1979 and 1999 seasons, both times being beaten by the <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Rams" title="Los Angeles Rams">Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams</a>. The Lightning lost in the <a href="/wiki/2015_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2015 Stanley Cup Finals">2015 Finals</a> against the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> and in the <a href="/wiki/2022_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2022 Stanley Cup Finals">2022 Finals</a> against the <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a>, along with playing in the 2011, 2016 and 2018 Conference Finals, each of which went to seven games. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> played the <a href="/wiki/2008_World_Series" title="2008 World Series">2008 World Series</a> before losing to the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Phillies" title="Philadelphia Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a> in five games, and in the <a href="/wiki/2020_World_Series" title="2020 World Series">2020 World Series</a>, losing to the <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Dodgers" title="Los Angeles Dodgers">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> in six games. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Football">Football</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Football"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Raymondjames2005.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Raymondjames2005.JPG/200px-Raymondjames2005.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Raymondjames2005.JPG/300px-Raymondjames2005.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Raymondjames2005.JPG/400px-Raymondjames2005.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2304" data-file-height="1728" /></a><figcaption>Buccaneer game action at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> </figcaption></figure><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a></div> <p>Professional football first arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 1964, when the <a href="/wiki/American_Football_League" title="American Football League">American Football League</a> staged an exhibition game between the <a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Bills" title="Buffalo Bills">Buffalo Bills</a> and the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Jets" title="New York Jets">New York Jets</a>. Five years later, the <a href="/wiki/Miami_Dolphins" title="Miami Dolphins">Miami Dolphins</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> faced off in a joint AFL-NFL preseason game prior to the 1969 season, the final one before the two leagues would merge. </p><p>The Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> began play in old <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> in 1976 as an expansion team. After losing an NFL-record 26 straight games to begin their existence, the Bucs reached the <a href="/wiki/1979%E2%80%9380_NFL_playoffs" title="1979–80 NFL playoffs">1979 NFC Championship game</a> only to sink back into futility with an NFL-record 14 straight losing seasons through the 1980s and early 1990s. </p><p>The franchise's fortunes began a turnaround in the mid-90s under coach <a href="/wiki/Tony_Dungy" title="Tony Dungy">Tony Dungy</a>, and the success continued after the team moved into newly built <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> in 1998. The upward trend culminated in the Bucs' first championship at the end of the <a href="/wiki/2002_NFL_season" title="2002 NFL season">2002 season</a> under coach <a href="/wiki/Jon_Gruden" title="Jon Gruden">Jon Gruden</a>, when they defeated the <a href="/wiki/Oakland_Raiders" title="Oakland Raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> in <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVII" title="Super Bowl XXXVII">Super Bowl XXXVII</a>. The Bucs made several playoff appearances since then but didn't win another playoff game until the <a href="/wiki/2020_NFL_season" title="2020 NFL season">2020 season</a>, in which they reached <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a> and defeated the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a> for their second title. <a href="/wiki/Bruce_Arians" title="Bruce Arians">Bruce Arians</a> became the Bucs' head coach beginning with the <a href="/wiki/2019_Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" class="mw-redirect" title="2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers">2019 season</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Baseball">Baseball</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Baseball"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Baseball_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area" class="mw-redirect" title="Baseball in the Tampa Bay area">Baseball in the Tampa Bay area</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Bay_Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Tampa Bay Rays"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG/200px-Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG/300px-Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG/400px-Tropicana_field_from_air.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2272" data-file-height="1704" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a> (originally the "Florida Suncoast Dome") </figcaption></figure> <p>Minor league, amateur, and spring training baseball have long been very popular in the Tampa Bay area. As such, a fierce cross-bay competition for a potential <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a> franchise developed in the 1980s and 1990s, with Tampa and St. Petersburg each vying to bring professional baseball to town. Despite warnings from MLB that expansion was not imminent,<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> St. Pete began construction of the <a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Florida Suncoast Dome</a> in 1987 in the hopes of eventually landing an MLB team through expansion or relocation. </p><p>Many teams, including the <a href="/wiki/Oakland_A%27s" class="mw-redirect" title="Oakland A's">Oakland A's</a>, <a href="/wiki/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)" title="Texas Rangers (baseball)">Texas Rangers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Seattle_Mariners" title="Seattle Mariners">Seattle Mariners</a>, <a href="/wiki/Chicago_White_Sox" title="Chicago White Sox">Chicago White Sox</a>, <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Twins" title="Minnesota Twins">Minnesota Twins</a>, and <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco_Giants" title="San Francisco Giants">San Francisco Giants</a>, considered moving to the vacant venue. Local investors actually bought part ownership of the Twins and, in another attempt, had an agreement to buy the Giants and bring them to St. Pete. However, for various reasons, all these attempts to bring major league baseball to the area fell short.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Tampa Bay was rumored to be a front-runner when MLB expanded by two teams in 1991, but <a href="/wiki/Florida_Marlins" class="mw-redirect" title="Florida Marlins">Miami</a> and <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies" title="Colorado Rockies">Denver</a> were chosen instead.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Finally, in March 1995, St. Petersburg was awarded a major league expansion franchise along with <a href="/wiki/Arizona_Diamondbacks" title="Arizona Diamondbacks">Phoenix</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Tampa Bay Rays began play as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in newly renamed <a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a> in 1998. The franchise struggled through its first 10 years of existence, finishing last in the <a href="/wiki/American_League_East_Division" class="mw-redirect" title="American League East Division">American League East Division</a> in nine of those ten seasons. After (again) posting the worst record in baseball in <a href="/wiki/2007_Major_League_Baseball_season" title="2007 Major League Baseball season">2007</a>, however, the <a href="/wiki/2008_Tampa_Bay_Rays_season" title="2008 Tampa Bay Rays season">newly renamed "Rays"</a> won 97 games in <a href="/wiki/2008_Major_League_Baseball_season" title="2008 Major League Baseball season">2008</a>, winning the AL East and the <a href="/wiki/2008_ALCS" class="mw-redirect" title="2008 ALCS">AL pennant</a> to earn a berth in the <a href="/wiki/2008_World_Series" title="2008 World Series">2008 World Series</a> under manager <a href="/wiki/Joe_Maddon" title="Joe Maddon">Joe Maddon</a>. Since 2008 inclusive, the Rays have won three AL East titles and have made six playoff appearances, as well as a second World Series appearance in <a href="/wiki/2020_World_Series" title="2020 World Series">2020</a>. <a href="/wiki/Kevin_Cash" title="Kevin Cash">Kevin Cash</a> has been the Rays' manager since <a href="/wiki/2015_Tampa_Bay_Rays_season" title="2015 Tampa Bay Rays season">2015</a>. Due to damage from <a href="/wiki/Hurricane_Milton" title="Hurricane Milton">Hurricane Milton</a> on Tropicana Field, the Rays spent the 2025 season at <a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a>, the spring training stadium of the New York Yankees. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Spring_training_and_minor_leagues">Spring training and minor leagues</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Spring training and minor leagues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The area has had a long association with <a href="/wiki/Spring_training" title="Spring training">spring training</a> baseball. The local tradition began in 1913, when the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Cubs" title="Chicago Cubs">Chicago Cubs</a>, lured by Tampa mayor D.B. McKay's pledge to pay the team's expenses, trained at <a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> St. Petersburg mayor Al Lang made a similar push, and in 1914, the <a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Browns" title="St. Louis Browns">St. Louis Browns</a> became the first of many teams to train in St. Pete, being succeeded by the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Phillies" title="Philadelphia Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a> for 1915. The Phillies used a new facility called "Coffee Pot Bayou Park" along the city's bayfront area. In the 1940s, a small modern ballpark was built on the site. It would be christened <a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Al Lang Field">Al Lang Field</a> in honor of the mayor who had brought baseball to St. Petersburg. </p><p>Many major league teams have trained in the Tampa Bay area over the ensuing decades. Current members of the spring training <a href="/wiki/Grapefruit_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Grapefruit League">Grapefruit League</a> in the Tampa Bay area include: </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Baltimore_Orioles" title="Baltimore Orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a> at <a href="/wiki/Ed_Smith_Stadium" title="Ed Smith Stadium">Ed Smith Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/Sarasota,_Florida" title="Sarasota, Florida">Sarasota</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/New_York_Yankees" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees</a> at <a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a> in <a href="/wiki/Tampa,_Florida" title="Tampa, Florida">Tampa</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Phillies" title="Philadelphia Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a> at <a href="/wiki/Spectrum_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Spectrum Field">Spectrum Field</a> in <a href="/wiki/Clearwater,_Florida" title="Clearwater, Florida">Clearwater</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates" title="Pittsburgh Pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> at <a href="/wiki/McKechnie_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="McKechnie Field">McKechnie Field</a> in <a href="/wiki/Bradenton,_Florida" title="Bradenton, Florida">Bradenton</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Blue_Jays" title="Toronto Blue Jays">Toronto Blue Jays</a> at <a href="/wiki/TD_Ballpark" title="TD Ballpark">TD Ballpark</a> in <a href="/wiki/Dunedin,_Florida" title="Dunedin, Florida">Dunedin</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Tigers" title="Detroit Tigers">Detroit Tigers</a> at <a href="/wiki/Joker_Marchant_Stadium" title="Joker Marchant Stadium">Joker Marchant Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/Lakeland,_Florida" title="Lakeland, Florida">Lakeland</a></li></ul> <p>The area also hosts five <a href="/wiki/Minor_league_baseball" class="mw-redirect" title="Minor league baseball">minor league baseball</a> teams, all in <a href="/wiki/Single-A_(baseball)" class="mw-redirect" title="Single-A (baseball)">Low-A</a> <a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Southeast</a>. These teams all use stadiums also used by MLB teams for spring training. These teams are: </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Clearwater_Threshers" title="Clearwater Threshers">Clearwater Threshers</a> (Phillies): <a href="/wiki/Spectrum_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Spectrum Field">Spectrum Field</a> in Clearwater</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Dunedin_Blue_Jays" title="Dunedin Blue Jays">Dunedin Blue Jays</a>: <a href="/wiki/TD_Ballpark" title="TD Ballpark">TD Ballpark</a> in Dunedin</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Bradenton_Marauders" title="Bradenton Marauders">Bradenton Marauders</a> (Pirates): <a href="/wiki/McKechnie_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="McKechnie Field">McKechnie Field</a> in Bradenton</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Tarpons" title="Tampa Tarpons">Tampa Tarpons</a> (Yankees): <a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a> in Tampa</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Flying_Tigers" title="Lakeland Flying Tigers">Lakeland Flying Tigers</a>: <a href="/wiki/Joker_Marchant_Stadium" title="Joker Marchant Stadium">Joker Marchant Stadium</a> in Lakeland</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Historical_teams">Historical teams</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Historical teams"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Several other local minor league teams have come and gone over the years. Notable historical teams include: </p> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Smokers" title="Tampa Smokers">Tampa Smokers</a> – The area's first modern professional baseball team (1919), charter member of the original <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a> (FSL)</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Saints" title="St. Petersburg Saints">St. Petersburg Saints</a> – Founded in 1920, also played in the FSL</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Tarpons_(1957%E2%80%931988)" title="Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)">Tampa Tarpons</a> – Long-time FSL affiliate of the <a href="/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds" title="Cincinnati Reds">Cincinnati Reds</a>, alumni include several members of the <a href="/wiki/The_Big_Red_Machine" class="mw-redirect" title="The Big Red Machine">"Big Red Machine"</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Rockets" title="Tampa Rockets">Tampa Rockets</a> – Local affiliate in the <a href="/wiki/Negro_league_baseball" title="Negro league baseball">Florida State Negro League</a> during the 1940s</li></ul> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg/140px-St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg" decoding="async" width="140" height="105" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg/210px-St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg/280px-St._Pete_Times_Forum_interior.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200" /></a><figcaption>Inside the <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a> during a Lightning game</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Hockey">Hockey</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Hockey"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">NHL</a>'s Tampa Bay Lightning were established as an expansion franchise in 1992. They began play in the <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_Fairgrounds" title="Florida State Fairgrounds">Florida State Fairgrounds</a>' <a href="/wiki/Expo_Hall" title="Expo Hall">Expo Hall</a> in Tampa, then moved across the Bay to what is now <a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a> in St. Petersburg (which was rechristened the "Thunderdome" at the time), and finally found a permanent home ice in the new <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a> (originally known as the "Ice Palace"), located in the <a href="/wiki/Channel_District,_Tampa" class="mw-redirect" title="Channel District, Tampa">Channelside District</a> of <a href="/wiki/Downtown_Tampa" title="Downtown Tampa">downtown Tampa</a>. The Lightning have won three <a href="/wiki/Stanley_Cup" title="Stanley Cup">Stanley Cup</a> championships: in <a href="/wiki/2003%E2%80%9304_NHL_season" title="2003–04 NHL season">2004</a>, <a href="/wiki/2019-20_NHL_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2019-20 NHL season">2020</a>, and <a href="/wiki/2020-21_NHL_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2020-21 NHL season">2021</a>. They have been coached by <a href="/wiki/Jon_Cooper_(ice_hockey)" title="Jon Cooper (ice hockey)">Jon Cooper</a> since 2013. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="College_sports">College sports</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: College sports"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Tampa Bay Area is home to four colleges and <a href="/wiki/University" title="University">universities</a> which compete in <a href="/wiki/NCAA" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA">NCAA</a> sports. </p> <table class="sortable wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>School</th> <th>Nickname</th> <th>Division</th> <th>Primary conference </th> <th>National championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls" title="South Florida Bulls">Bulls</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I" title="NCAA Division I">NCAA Division I</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Athletic_Conference" title="American Athletic Conference">American Athletic Conference</a> </td> <td>6 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Eckerd_College" title="Eckerd College">Eckerd College</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Eckerd_Tritons" title="Eckerd Tritons">Tritons</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Sunshine_State_Conference" title="Sunshine State Conference">Sunshine State Conference</a> </td> <td>0 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Saint_Leo_University" title="Saint Leo University">Saint Leo University</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Saint_Leo_Lions" title="Saint Leo Lions">Lions</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Sunshine_State_Conference" title="Sunshine State Conference">Sunshine State Conference</a> </td> <td>1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Spartans" title="Tampa Spartans">Spartans</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Sunshine_State_Conference" title="Sunshine State Conference">Sunshine State Conference</a> </td> <td>19 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="University_of_South_Florida">University of South Florida</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: University of South Florida"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls" title="South Florida Bulls">South Florida Bulls</a></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sundomecloseup.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Sundomecloseup.JPG/200px-Sundomecloseup.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Sundomecloseup.JPG/300px-Sundomecloseup.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Sundomecloseup.JPG/400px-Sundomecloseup.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="960" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Yuengling_Center" title="Yuengling Center">Yuengling Center</a> </figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a> Bulls compete in <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I" title="NCAA Division I">NCAA Division I</a>, the highest level of college sports. USF opened in north Tampa in 1960 and started its sports program in 1965 with a <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_men%27s_soccer" title="South Florida Bulls men's soccer">men's soccer</a> squad.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The school gradually added more sports in the ensuing years, including <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_men%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls men's basketball">men's basketball</a> in 1971 and <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_women%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls women's basketball">women's basketball</a> in 1972. The hoops teams mainly played in <a href="/wiki/Curtis_Hixon_Hall" title="Curtis Hixon Hall">Curtis Hixon Hall</a> in downtown Tampa until 1980, when the school opened the on-campus USF Sun Dome, now known as <a href="/wiki/Yuengling_Center" title="Yuengling Center">Yuengling Center</a>, for use by its basketball and <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_volleyball" title="South Florida Bulls volleyball">volleyball</a> teams. </p><p>USF began a <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_football" title="South Florida Bulls football">football program</a> in 1997. They played in <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> for one season, then moved into newly built <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> the following year. The program competed as an <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Football_Championship_Subdivision" title="NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision">NCAA Division I-AA</a> independent during its first four seasons until 2001, when the Bulls moved up to Division I-A. They joined <a href="/wiki/Conference_USA" title="Conference USA">Conference USA</a> in 2003, switched to the <a href="/wiki/Big_East_Conference_(1979%E2%80%932013)" title="Big East Conference (1979–2013)">Big East Conference</a> in 2005, and became a charter member of the <a href="/wiki/American_Athletic_Conference" title="American Athletic Conference">American Athletic Conference</a> in 2013. </p><p>After joining the Big East, the Bulls began a streak of six straight <a href="/wiki/Bowl_game" title="Bowl game">bowl game</a> appearances. The <a href="/wiki/2007_South_Florida_Bulls_football_team" title="2007 South Florida Bulls football team">2007 season</a> was the program's most successful so far, as the team reached as high as #2 in the <a href="/wiki/BCS_rankings" class="mw-redirect" title="BCS rankings">BCS rankings</a> under coach <a href="/wiki/Jim_Leavitt" title="Jim Leavitt">Jim Leavitt</a>. <a href="/wiki/Charlie_Strong" title="Charlie Strong">Charlie Strong</a> became USF's head football coach in 2017. </p><p>The Bulls have won six national championships in school history: <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_softball" title="South Florida Bulls softball">softball</a> in 1983 and 1984, <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_swimming" class="mw-redirect" title="South Florida Bulls swimming">women's swimming</a> in 1985, and sailing in 2009, 2016, and 2017. Individuals and relay teams have combined to win 22 national championships for USF.<sup id="cite_ref-fs.ncaa.org_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fs.ncaa.org-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="University_of_Tampa">University of Tampa</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: University of Tampa"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Spartans" title="Tampa Spartans">Tampa Spartans</a></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa</a> has the oldest collegiate sports program in the area, dating to 1933, when the school first fielded a football team. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Spartans_football" title="Tampa Spartans football">"Tampa U" Spartans</a> played at <a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a> for three seasons before moving to <a href="/wiki/Phillips_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Phillips Field">Phillips Field</a> in 1936. They were the first team to call <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> home when it opened in 1967. The Spartans moved up to play <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I" title="NCAA Division I">NCAA Division I</a> football and produced several NFL stars, before dropping the sport entirely after the 1974 season due to budgetary concerns. </p><p>Currently, UT competes at the <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a> level in the <a href="/wiki/Sunshine_State_Conference" title="Sunshine State Conference">Sunshine State Conference</a> (SSC). UT is among the top schools in the SSC in both championships and student-athletes named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2015)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> Spartan teams have won 19 NCAA Division II titles: men's soccer in 1981, 1994 and 2001, women's soccer in 2007, baseball in 1992, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2019, men's golf in 1987 and 1988, volleyball 2007, 2014, 2018, and 2021, and beach volleyball in 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-fs.ncaa.org_17-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fs.ncaa.org-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Two individuals have also won national titles.<sup id="cite_ref-fs.ncaa.org_17-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fs.ncaa.org-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With national championships in 2006 and 2007, the Spartan baseball team became the first team in Division II baseball to win consecutive titles since they did it previously in 1992 and 1993. The school's basketball and volleyball teams have played in the on-campus <a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Bob Martinez Sports Center</a> since 1984. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Saint_Leo_University">Saint Leo University</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Saint Leo University"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Though <a href="/wiki/Saint_Leo_University" title="Saint Leo University">Saint Leo</a> was established as a college in 1889 and is much older than any of the other college in the Tampa Bay area, a good portion of their early history was spent as a college preparatory school. The college was re-established in 1959. SLU teams participate as a member of the NCAA's Division II. The Lions are charter members of the Sunshine State Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball. The baseball team calls Thomas B. Southard Stadium home. The Marion Bowman Center is used for basketball and volleyball. Marion Bowman Aquatics Center hosts the swim team. Soccer, tennis and lacrosse are also played at on-campus facilities. The men's and women's golf teams uses neighboring Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club as their home course. </p><p>The men's golf team won the 2016 NCAA Division II title. It is the only team national title for the school, but three athletes have won individual titles at Saint Leo.<sup id="cite_ref-fs.ncaa.org_17-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fs.ncaa.org-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The school mascot is a lion named Fritz and the school colors are green and gold. <a href="/wiki/Red_Barrett" title="Red Barrett">Red Barrett</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jim_Corsi_(baseball)" title="Jim Corsi (baseball)">Jim Corsi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sankar_Montoute" title="Sankar Montoute">Sankar Montoute</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bob_Tewksbury" title="Bob Tewksbury">Bob Tewksbury</a> and <a href="/wiki/J._P._Ricciardi" title="J. P. Ricciardi">J. P. Ricciardi</a> are all notable alumni of Saint Leo athletics. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Eckerd_College">Eckerd College</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Eckerd College"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Eckerd_College#Athletics" title="Eckerd College">Eckerd College § Athletics</a></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Eckerd_College" title="Eckerd College">Eckerd College</a> is a charter member of the Sunshine State Conference (NCAA Division II) fielding 13 athletic teams in coed and women's sailing, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, baseball, volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, and softball. The sailing team competes nationally as a member of the SAISA (the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association) and is a member of the ICSA (Intercollegiate Sailing Association). The college's basketball and volleyball teams play in the McArthur Center's gymnasium. Eckerd's mascot is the Triton, and the school's colors, teal, navy and black were adopted by the athletic programs in 2005; previously the school's colors had been black, red, and white. </p><p>In 2006, for the first time in the 24-year history of the Eckerd College Women's Volleyball program, the Tritons qualified for the NCAA South Region tournament. Notable baseball alumni include <a href="/wiki/Steve_Balboni" title="Steve Balboni">Steve Balboni</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bill_Evers" title="Bill Evers">Bill Evers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Joe_Lefebvre" title="Joe Lefebvre">Joe Lefebvre</a> and <a href="/wiki/Brian_Sabean" title="Brian Sabean">Brian Sabean</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notable_minor_league_sports">Notable minor league sports</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Notable minor league sports"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Tampa Bay area is home to numerous minor league sports teams. </p> <table class="sortable wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Team</th> <th>Founded</th> <th>Sport</th> <th>Venue</th> <th>League</th> <th>League championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> </td> <td>2010 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Soccer" class="mw-redirect" title="Soccer">Soccer</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_Championship" title="USL Championship">USL Championship</a> </td> <td>2: <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl_2012" title="Soccer Bowl 2012">2012</a>, <a href="/wiki/2020_USL_Championship_season" title="2020 USL Championship season">2020</a>*<br />*(co-champions) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Tropics_SC" title="Florida Tropics SC">Florida Tropics SC</a></td> <td>2016</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Indoor_soccer" title="Indoor soccer">Indoor soccer</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/RP_Funding_Center" title="RP Funding Center">RP Funding Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Major_Arena_Soccer_League" title="Major Arena Soccer League">Major Arena Soccer League</a> </td> <td>1: <a href="/wiki/2021_Major_Arena_Soccer_League_season" title="2021 Major Arena Soccer League season">2020</a>*<br />*(co-champions) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Sun_FC" title="Tampa Bay Sun FC">Tampa Bay Sun FC</a> </td> <td>2024 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Howard_W._Blake_High_School" title="Howard W. Blake High School">Howard W. Blake High School</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_Super_League" title="USL Super League">USL Super League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Soccer">Soccer</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Soccer"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a></div> <p>The Tampa Bay Rowdies are a member of the <a href="/wiki/USL_Championship" title="USL Championship">USL Championship</a> (USLC), competing in the second tier of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_soccer_pyramid" class="mw-redirect" title="United States soccer pyramid">United States soccer pyramid</a>. The franchise considers itself to be a <a href="/wiki/Phoenix_club_(sports)" title="Phoenix club (sports)">phoenix club</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%9393)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)">original Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> of the <a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%9384)" class="mw-redirect" title="North American Soccer League (1968–84)">first NASL</a> and displays a star on its shield commemorating the 1975 championship. Though the owners intended to use the Rowdies name from the beginning, trademark issues forced the team to call itself <b>FC Tampa Bay</b> when it took the pitch as an expansion franchise of the <a href="/wiki/USSF_Division_2_Professional_League" title="USSF Division 2 Professional League">USSF Division 2 Professional League</a> in 2010. The team transitioned into the <a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(2011%E2%80%932017)" title="North American Soccer League (2011–2017)">second NASL</a> for 2011 and obtained the rights to the Rowdies name for 2012. The team moved to the United Soccer League Championship, then known as the United Soccer League, in 2016 as a part of their bid for expansion to the <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer" title="Major League Soccer">MLS</a>. </p><p>The club played its first season in <a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a> in Tampa before moving to St. Petersburg's <a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a> for subsequent seasons. In 2012, the Rowdies won the NASL's <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl_2012" title="Soccer Bowl 2012">Soccer Bowl</a> to claim the league championship. They were USL Regular Season champions and Eastern Conference champions in 2020 and were then named league co-champions along with the Phoenix Rising after the title game had to be canceled because of <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19</a>. They repeated as Eastern Conference champions in 2021 but lost in the title game. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Florida_Tropics_SC" title="Florida Tropics SC">Florida Tropics SC</a> compete in indoor soccer in the <a href="/wiki/Major_Arena_Soccer_League" title="Major Arena Soccer League">Major Arena Soccer League</a>. Like the Rowdies, they shared the 2020 league title as co-champions with the Monterrey Flash.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They won the regular season league title in 2021.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Basketball">Basketball</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Basketball"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Tampa Bay area does not have a professional basketball team. The <a href="/wiki/Orlando_Magic" title="Orlando Magic">Orlando Magic</a> are the closest <a href="/wiki/NBA" class="mw-redirect" title="NBA">NBA</a> team to the area, 85 miles east. The <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Raptors" title="Toronto Raptors">Toronto Raptors</a> of the <a href="/wiki/National_Basketball_Association" title="National Basketball Association">National Basketball Association</a> (NBA) played all their home games in <a href="/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Toronto_Raptors_season" title="2020–21 Toronto Raptors season">2020–21</a> at <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a> due to travel restrictions brought on by the Canadian government in response to the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Canada" title="COVID-19 pandemic in Canada">COVID-19 pandemic hitting Canada</a>, especially with a <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Toronto" title="COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto">spike of cases in the Toronto area</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Titans" title="Tampa Bay Titans">Tampa Bay Titans</a> played in <a href="/wiki/The_Basketball_League" title="The Basketball League">The Basketball League</a> (TBL) from 2019-2022. Their home games were played at <a href="/wiki/Pasco%E2%80%93Hernando_State_College" title="Pasco–Hernando State College">Pasco–Hernando State College</a>. The team's owner, Bassel Harfouch, was also the team's leading scorer. </p><p>The St. Pete Tide and the Tampa Gunners played in the <a href="/wiki/Florida_Basketball_Association" title="Florida Basketball Association">Florida Basketball Association</a> (FBA). The Tide's home games were played at <a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Catholic_High_School" title="St. Petersburg Catholic High School">St. Petersburg Catholic High School</a>, and the Gunners were a travel team. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_minor_league_sports">Other minor league sports</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Other minor league sports"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="sortable wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Team</th> <th>Founded</th> <th>Sport</th> <th>Venue</th> <th>League</th> <th>League championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bay_Area_Pelicans" title="Bay Area Pelicans">Bay Area Pelicans Rugby Football Club</a></td> <td>1977</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Rugby_union" title="Rugby union">Rugby union</a></td> <td>Sawgrass Park</td> <td><a href="/wiki/USA_Rugby" title="USA Rugby">USA Rugby</a>–<a href="/wiki/Florida_Rugby_Union" title="Florida Rugby Union">Florida Rugby Union</a></td> <td>"Several" (?) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bradenton_Marauders" title="Bradenton Marauders">Bradenton Marauders</a></td> <td>1957 (as <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Tarpons_(1957%E2%80%931988)" title="Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)">original Tampa Tarpons</a>) <p>2010 (as Bradenton Marauders) </p> </td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/LECOM_Park" title="LECOM Park">LECOM Park</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Low-A Southeast</a></td> <td>4: 1957, 1959, 1961, 2016 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Clearwater_Threshers" title="Clearwater Threshers">Clearwater Threshers</a></td> <td>1985</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Spectrum_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Spectrum Field">Spectrum Field</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Low-A Southeast</a></td> <td>2: 1993, 2007 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Tropics_SC" title="Florida Tropics SC">Tropics SC</a></td> <td>2016</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Lake_Myrtle_Sports_Complex" title="Lake Myrtle Sports Complex">Lake Myrtle Sports Complex</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_Premier_Soccer_League" title="United Premier Soccer League">United Premier Soccer League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Dunedin_Blue_Jays" title="Dunedin Blue Jays">Dunedin Blue Jays</a></td> <td>1987</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/TD_Ballpark" title="TD Ballpark">TD Ballpark</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Low-A Southeast</a></td> <td>1: 2017*<br />*(co-champions) </td></tr> <tr> <td>Gulf Coast Lions</td> <td>2020</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td>Salvation Army</td> <td><a href="/wiki/The_Basketball_League" title="The Basketball League">The Basketball League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/IMG_Academy_Bradenton" title="IMG Academy Bradenton">IMG Academy Bradenton</a></td> <td>1998</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Soccer" class="mw-redirect" title="Soccer">Soccer</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/IMG_Academy" title="IMG Academy">IMG Academy</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_League_Two" title="USL League Two">USL League Two</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Flying_Tigers" title="Lakeland Flying Tigers">Lakeland Flying Tigers</a></td> <td>1963</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Joker_Marchant_Stadium" title="Joker Marchant Stadium">Joker Marchant Stadium</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Low-A Southeast</a></td> <td>4: 1976, 1977, 1992, 2012 </td></tr> <tr> <td>St. Petersburg Swans</td> <td>2014</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football" title="Australian rules football">Australian rules football</a></td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Australian_Football_League" title="United States Australian Football League">United States Australian Football League</a>, Major League Footy</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Krewe" title="Tampa Bay Krewe">Tampa Bay Area Krewe Rugby Football Club</a></td> <td>1989</td> <td>Rugby union</td> <td>Skyview Park</td> <td><a href="/wiki/USA_Rugby" title="USA Rugby">USA Rugby</a>–<a href="/wiki/Florida_Rugby_Union" title="Florida Rugby Union">Florida Rugby Union</a></td> <td>7: Division I: Florida Cup (2010) <p>Division II: National Champion (2010), Rugby South (2009) </p><p>Division III: Florida Cup (1997, 2008, 2009, 2010) </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Hellenic" title="Tampa Bay Hellenic">Tampa Bay Hellenic</a></td> <td>2008</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td>Ed Radice Sports Complex</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Premier_Soccer_League" title="Women's Premier Soccer League">Women's Premier Soccer League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Inferno" title="Tampa Bay Inferno">Tampa Bay Inferno</a></td> <td>2010</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_American_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Women's American football">Women's American football</a></td> <td>Skyway Park</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Football_Alliance" title="Women's Football Alliance">Women's Football Alliance</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tampa Bay Irish Sports Club</td> <td>2011</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Hurling" title="Hurling">Hurling</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Camogie" title="Camogie">Camogie</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Gaelic_football" title="Gaelic football">Gaelic football</a></td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Gaelic_Athletic_Association" title="Gaelic Athletic Association">Gaelic Athletic Association</a></td> <td>2: Tom Mollohan Hurling Invitational (2014)<br />Florida Cup Gaelic Football (2013) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Titans" title="Tampa Bay Titans">Tampa Bay Titans</a></td> <td>2019</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Pasco-Hernando_State_College" class="mw-redirect" title="Pasco-Hernando State College">Pasco-Hernando State College</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/The_Basketball_League" title="The Basketball League">The Basketball League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Mayhem" title="Tampa Mayhem">Tampa Mayhem</a></td> <td>2014</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Rugby_league" title="Rugby league">Rugby league</a></td> <td>Larry Sanders Park</td> <td><a href="/wiki/USA_Rugby_League" title="USA Rugby League">USA Rugby League</a></td> <td>2021 USA Rugby League Premiership Champions </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Marauders" title="Tampa Marauders">Tampa Marauders FC</a></td> <td>2012</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td>Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex</td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Premier_Soccer_League" title="National Premier Soccer League">National Premier Soccer League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Tarpons" title="Tampa Tarpons">Tampa Tarpons</a></td> <td>1994</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Low-A_Southeast" class="mw-redirect" title="Low-A Southeast">Low-A Southeast</a></td> <td>5: 1994, 2001*, 2004*, 2009, 2010<br />*(co-champions) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Magic" class="mw-redirect" title="Lakeland Magic">Lakeland Magic</a></td> <td>2008</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/RP_Funding_Center" title="RP Funding Center">RP Funding Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/NBA_G_League" title="NBA G League">NBA G League</a></td> <td>1: <a href="/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_NBA_G_League_season" title="2020–21 NBA G League season">2021</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Defunct_major_sports_franchises">Defunct major sports franchises</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Defunct major sports franchises"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Over the years, the Tampa Bay area was home to several professional sports franchises that eventually folded or relocated, including many short-lived minor league teams. Major and notable minor sports teams included: </p> <table class="sortable wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Team</th> <th>Years of operation</th> <th>Sport</th> <th>Venue</th> <th>League</th> <th>League championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Smokers" title="Tampa Smokers">Tampa Smokers</a> </td> <td>1919–1932, 1946-1954 </td> <td>Baseball </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a> (1919–1927), <a href="/wiki/Southeastern_League" title="Southeastern League">Southeastern League</a> (1929–1930), West Coast League (1932), <a href="/wiki/Florida_International_League" title="Florida International League">Florida International League</a> (1946–1954) </td> <td>4: 1920, 1925, 1946, 1949 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Saints" title="St. Petersburg Saints">St. Petersburg Saints</a> </td> <td>1947–2000 </td> <td>Baseball </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Al Lang Field">Al Lang Field</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_International_League" title="Florida International League">Florida International League</a> (1947–1954), <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a> (1955–2000) </td> <td>8: 1951, 1958, 1959, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1986, 1997 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%9393)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)">Tampa Bay Rowdies (original)</a> </td> <td>1975–1993 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)" class="mw-redirect" title="North American Soccer League (1968–1984)">North American Soccer League</a> (1975–1984), <a href="/wiki/American_Indoor_Soccer_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="American Indoor Soccer Association">American Indoor Soccer Association</a> (1986–1987), <a href="/wiki/American_Soccer_League_(1988%E2%80%9389)" class="mw-redirect" title="American Soccer League (1988–89)">American Soccer League</a> (1988–1989), <a href="/wiki/American_Professional_Soccer_League" title="American Professional Soccer League">American Professional Soccer League</a> (1990–1993) </td> <td>4: <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl_%2775" title="Soccer Bowl '75">1975</a>, <a href="/wiki/1976_NASL_Indoor_tournament" title="1976 NASL Indoor tournament">1976</a>*, <a href="/wiki/1979%E2%80%9380_NASL_Indoor_season" class="mw-redirect" title="1979–80 NASL Indoor season">1980</a>*, <a href="/wiki/1983_NASL_Grand_Prix_of_Indoor_Soccer" title="1983 NASL Grand Prix of Indoor Soccer">1983</a>* <p>*(NASL indoor title) </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Bandits" title="Tampa Bay Bandits">Tampa Bay Bandits</a> </td> <td>1983–1985 </td> <td>Football </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League" title="United States Football League">United States Football League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Storm" title="Tampa Bay Storm">Tampa Bay Storm</a></td> <td>1991–2017</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Arena_football" title="Arena football">Arena football</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League" title="Arena Football League">Arena Football League</a></td> <td>5: 1991 (<a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_V" title="ArenaBowl V">V</a>), 1993 (<a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_VII" title="ArenaBowl VII">VII</a>), 1995 (<a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_IX" title="ArenaBowl IX">IX</a>), 1996 (<a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_X" title="ArenaBowl X">X</a>), 2003 (<a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_XVII" title="ArenaBowl XVII">XVII</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Mutiny" title="Tampa Bay Mutiny">Tampa Bay Mutiny</a> </td> <td>1995–2001 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer" title="Major League Soccer">Major League Soccer</a> </td> <td>1: <a href="/wiki/1996_Major_League_Soccer_season" title="1996 Major League Soccer season">1996</a> (<a href="/wiki/Supporters%27_Shield" title="Supporters' Shield">Supporters' Shield</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Thrillers" title="Tampa Bay Thrillers">Tampa Bay Thrillers</a></td> <td>1984–1987<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>a<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Spartan Sports Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Continental_Basketball_Association" title="Continental Basketball Association">Continental Basketball Association</a></td> <td>3: 1985, 1986, 1987 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Bay_Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Tampa Bay Rowdies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%931993)" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)">Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993)</a></div> <p>The <b>Tampa Bay Rowdies</b> were the first major professional sports team in the area. As such, they were also the first pro franchise to make Tampa Stadium its home field and the first to use "Tampa Bay" in their name. They began play in 1975 as an expansion franchise of the original <a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%9384)" class="mw-redirect" title="North American Soccer League (1968–84)">North American Soccer League</a> (NASL). The Rowdies won the inaugural <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl" title="Soccer Bowl">Soccer Bowl</a> in 1975, bringing Tampa Bay its first professional sports championship, and were successful for most of their existence. The NASL folded in 1984, but the Rowdies continued play in other outdoor and indoor soccer leagues (usually at Tampa Stadium and St. Petersburg's <a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a>, respectively) before finally folding in 1993. </p><p>A new incarnation of the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> in the second <a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(2011%E2%80%932017)" title="North American Soccer League (2011–2017)">North American Soccer League</a> took the pitch in 2010. While a licensing dispute forced the franchise to call itself "FC Tampa Bay" for its initial two seasons, the new club used the old club's green and gold color scheme and include a star for the Rowdies' 1975 championship in their team shield<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The team officially began using the "Rowdies" name for the 2012 season and promptly brought home the <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl_(2011%E2%80%932017)" title="Soccer Bowl (2011–2017)">Soccer Bowl trophy</a> that October. The current Rowdies now play in the second-tier <a href="/wiki/USL_Championship" title="USL Championship">USL Championship</a> and were eastern conference champions and league co-champions in 2020 after the championship game was canceled due to the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Bay_Bandits">Tampa Bay Bandits</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Tampa Bay Bandits"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:TampaBayBandits.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/TampaBayBandits.png" decoding="async" width="150" height="94" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="150" data-file-height="94" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main articles: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Bandits" title="Tampa Bay Bandits">Tampa Bay Bandits</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Bandits_(2022)" title="Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)">Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)</a></div> <p>The <b>Tampa Bay Bandits</b> of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League" title="United States Football League">United States Football League</a> (USFL) played three seasons in Tampa Stadium from 1983 to 1985. With innovative head coach <a href="/wiki/Steve_Spurrier" title="Steve Spurrier">Steve Spurrier</a> and a fan-friendly atmosphere, "Banditball"'s local popularity rivaled that of the more-established Buccaneers, who were in the midst of a streak of 14 straight losing seasons during the Bandits' short existence.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The USFL decided to compete directly with the NFL in 1986 by moving its season from the spring to the fall. But after the infamous failure of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League#USFL_v._NFL_lawsuit" title="United States Football League">USFL's antitrust lawsuit against the NFL</a>, the league folded instead. <a href="/wiki/John_F._Bassett" title="John F. Bassett">John Bassett</a>, the principal owner of the Bandits, had opposed the USFL's fall strategy and planned to make the team a charter member of a new spring league.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, Bassett's failing health prevented this idea from becoming reality. He died from cancer in 1986, and the Bandits would not play another down. </p><p>In 2022, the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League_(2022)" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Football League (2022)">USFL</a> was recreated and announced that a new Tampa Bay Bandits team would take part in the league. Due to COVID-19, all games during the first season took place in Birmingham, Alabama. The new Bandits only played during the 2022 season, and were replaced by a new team in Memphis in 2023.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Bay_Mutiny">Tampa Bay Mutiny</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Tampa Bay Mutiny"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Mutiny" title="Tampa Bay Mutiny">Tampa Bay Mutiny</a></div> <p>The <b>Tampa Bay Mutiny</b> was a charter franchise of <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer" title="Major League Soccer">Major League Soccer</a>. They began play at Tampa Stadium in 1996 and were immediately successful, winning the <a href="/wiki/MLS_Supporters%27_Shield" class="mw-redirect" title="MLS Supporters' Shield">MLS Supporters' Shield</a> in their inaugural season behind <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_MVP_Award" class="mw-redirect" title="Major League Soccer MVP Award">MLS MVP</a> <a href="/wiki/Carlos_Valderrama_(footballer)" class="mw-redirect" title="Carlos Valderrama (footballer)">Carlos Valderrama</a> and <a href="/wiki/Forward_(association_football)" title="Forward (association football)">forward</a> <a href="/wiki/Roy_Lassiter" title="Roy Lassiter">Roy Lassiter</a>, whose 27 goals in 1996 stood as the <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer_records_and_statistics" title="Major League Soccer records and statistics">MLS single-season record</a> until 2018. </p><p>As the team transitioned into Raymond James Stadium for 1999, however, poor personnel moves (including the loaning away of stars Carlos Valderrama and Roy Lassiter) led to decreased win totals which led to decreased fan support. Unable to find local buyers and hampered by an unfavorable lease agreement for Raymond James Stadium, the league folded the franchise in 2001.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Bay_Storm">Tampa Bay Storm</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Tampa Bay Storm"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Storm" title="Tampa Bay Storm">Tampa Bay Storm</a></div> <p>The Tampa Bay Storm played in the <a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League" title="Arena Football League">Arena Football League</a>. Originally established as the Pittsburgh Gladiators in 1987, the team moved to St. Petersburg and changed their name for the 1991 season. The newly christened Storm won their first <a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl" title="ArenaBowl">ArenaBowl</a> championship in their first season in the Tampa Bay area and won four more over the years, tied for the most titles (5) in AFL history. The Storm's original home turf was Tropicana Field, which was called the "Thunderdome" for a few years in honor of its two main tenants at the time: the Storm and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Storm followed the Lightning to downtown Tampa in 1997 when they moved their home turf to the <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Ice Palace</a>. </p><p>The Storm had one of the longest associations with their market of any AFL team and enjoyed strong local support, leading the league in attendance many times.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2011, the franchise was purchased by Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties, the same group that owns the Tampa Bay Lightning and Amalie Arena. The Storm enjoyed continued success for a few more seasons while the AFL as a whole declined, dropping to only five franchises for the <a href="/wiki/2017_Arena_Football_League_season" title="2017 Arena Football League season">2017 season</a>. In December 2017, the Storm's ownership group announced that due to greatly reduced league revenues, the franchise would cease operations. However, they left open the possibility of reestablishing the Storm in a "stronger, reinvented AFL."<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Other_defunct_teams">Other defunct teams</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Other defunct teams"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="sortable wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Team</th> <th>Years of operation</th> <th>Sport</th> <th>Venue</th> <th>League</th> <th>League championships </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Saints" title="St. Petersburg Saints">St. Petersburg Saints</a> </td> <td>1908–1928 </td> <td>Baseball </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Coffee_Pot_Park" title="Coffee Pot Park">Coffee Pot Park</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a> (1920–1928) </td> <td>1: 1922 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bradenton_Growers" title="Bradenton Growers">Bradenton Growers</a></td> <td>1919–1926</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/McKechnie_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="McKechnie Field">McKechnie Field</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Haven-Villa_of_Winter_Haven" title="Haven-Villa of Winter Haven">Haven-Villa of Winter Haven</a> </td> <td>1926 </td> <td>Football </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Winter_Haven_High_School" title="Winter Haven High School">Winter Haven High School</a> </td> <td>Independent </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Cardinals" title="Tampa Cardinals">Tampa Cardinals</a> </td> <td>1926 </td> <td>Football </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a>, <a href="/wiki/Adair_Park" title="Adair Park">Adair Park</a>, and others </td> <td>Independent </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Rockets" title="Tampa Rockets">Tampa Rockets</a> </td> <td>1940s? </td> <td>Baseball </td> <td> </td> <td>Florida State Negro League </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Pelicans" title="St. Petersburg Pelicans">St. Petersburg Pelicans</a> </td> <td>1940s–1950s? </td> <td>Baseball </td> <td>Campbell Park </td> <td>Florida State Negro Baseball League </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Dunedin_Blue_Jays" title="Dunedin Blue Jays">Dunedin Blue Jays</a></td> <td>1978–1979</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td>Grant Field</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_State_League" title="Florida State League">Florida State League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tampa Bay Flash/ Stars</td> <td>1986–1987</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Basketball_League" title="United States Basketball League">United States Basketball League</a></td> <td>1: 1986 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bradenton_Explorers" title="Bradenton Explorers">Bradenton Explorers</a></td> <td>1989–1990</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Jackie_Robinson_Ballpark" title="Jackie Robinson Ballpark">Jackie Robinson Ballpark</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Senior_Professional_Baseball_Association" title="Senior Professional Baseball Association">Senior Professional Baseball Association</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg_Pelicans" title="St. Petersburg Pelicans">St. Petersburg Pelicans</a></td> <td>1989–1990</td> <td>Baseball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Senior_Professional_Baseball_Association" title="Senior Professional Baseball Association">Senior Professional Baseball Association</a></td> <td>1: 1989 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tampa Bay Sunblasters</td> <td>1992</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Basketball_League" title="United States Basketball League">United States Basketball League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Tritons" title="Tampa Bay Tritons">Tampa Bay Tritons</a></td> <td>1994</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Roller_hockey" title="Roller hockey">Roller hockey</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Expo_Hall" title="Expo Hall">Expo Hall</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Roller_Hockey_International" title="Roller Hockey International">Roller Hockey International</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Jacksonville_Cyclones" title="Jacksonville Cyclones">Tampa Bay Cyclones</a> </td> <td>1995–1996 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td> </td> <td>USISL Pro League (1995), USISL Select League (1996) </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Terror" title="Tampa Bay Terror">Tampa Bay Terror</a></td> <td>1995–1997</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Indoor_soccer" title="Indoor soccer">Indoor soccer</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Professional_Soccer_League_(1984%E2%80%932001)" title="National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001)">National Professional Soccer League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Sea_Dragons" title="Florida Sea Dragons">Tampa Bay Windjammers</a></td> <td>1996–2002</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Basketball_League" title="United States Basketball League">United States Basketball League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tampa Bay FireStix </td> <td>1997–2001 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Softball" title="Softball">Softball</a> </td> <td> </td> <td>Women's Pro Fastpitch (1997–1998), <a href="/wiki/National_Pro_Fastpitch#Women's_Professional_Softball_League" title="National Pro Fastpitch">Women's Professional Softball League</a> (1998–2001) </td> <td>1: 1999 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tampa Bay Xtreme </td> <td>1997–2002 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_W-League_(1995%E2%80%932015)" title="USL W-League (1995–2015)">W-League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Hawks" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Hawks">Tampa Bay Hawks</a> </td> <td>2000–2002 </td> <td>Soccer </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Putnam_Park" title="Putnam Park">Putnam Park</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Premier_Development_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Premier Development League">Premier Development League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_ThunderDawgs" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs">Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs</a></td> <td>2000–2001</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center_Arena" class="mw-redirect" title="Bayfront Center Arena">Bayfront Center Arena</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Basketball_Association" title="American Basketball Association">American Basketball Association</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Florida Redbacks</td> <td>2003–2014</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Australian_rules_football" title="Australian rules football">Australian rules football</a></td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Australian_Football_League" title="United States Australian Football League">United States Australian Football League</a>-Eastern Australian Football League</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bradenton_Athletics" title="Bradenton Athletics">Bradenton Athletics</a></td> <td>2004–2008</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td><a href="/wiki/IMG_Soccer_Academy" class="mw-redirect" title="IMG Soccer Academy">IMG Soccer Academy</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_W-League_(1995%E2%80%932015)" title="USL W-League (1995–2015)">USL W-League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Thunderbolts" title="Lakeland Thunderbolts">Lakeland Thunderbolts</a></td> <td>2005–2007</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Indoor_American_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Indoor American football">Indoor football</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Lakeland Center">Lakeland Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Indoor_Football_League" title="National Indoor Football League">National Indoor Football League</a> (2005–2006), <a href="/wiki/American_Indoor_Football_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="American Indoor Football Association">American Indoor Football Association</a> (2007)</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Elite" title="Tampa Bay Elite">Tampa Bay Elite</a></td> <td>2005–2007</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Premier_Soccer_League" title="Women's Premier Soccer League">Women's Premier Soccer League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Sharks" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Sharks">Tampa Bay Sharks</a></td> <td>2005–2010</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Bob Martinez Sports Center</a></td> <td>Touring team (2005–2010), <a href="/wiki/American_Basketball_Association" title="American Basketball Association">American Basketball Association</a> (scheduled to begin in the 2010–2011 season but never played in any games)</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Strong_Dogs" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Strong Dogs">Tampa Bay Strong Dogs</a></td> <td>2006</td> <td>Basketball</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Bob Martinez Sports Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Basketball_Association" title="American Basketball Association">American Basketball Association</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Scorpions" title="Florida Scorpions">Florida Scorpions</a></td> <td>2008–2011</td> <td>Football</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Manatee_Civic_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Manatee Civic Center">Manatee Civic Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/National_Indoor_Football_League" title="National Indoor Football League">National Indoor Football League</a> (2008), <a href="/wiki/American_Professional_Football_League" title="American Professional Football League">American Professional Football League</a> (2008, 2011)</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Tuskers" class="mw-redirect" title="Florida Tuskers">Florida Tuskers</a></td> <td>2009–2010</td> <td>Football</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_Football_League_(2009)" class="mw-redirect" title="United Football League (2009)">United Football League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Jacksonville_Breeze" title="Jacksonville Breeze">Tampa Breeze</a></td> <td>2009–2012</td> <td>Indoor football</td> <td></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Legends_Football_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Legends Football League">Lingerie Football League</a> (2009–2013), <a href="/wiki/Legends_Football_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Legends Football League">Legends Football League</a> (2013–2014)</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/VSI_Tampa_Bay_FC" title="VSI Tampa Bay FC">VSI Tampa Bay FC</a></td> <td>2011–2013</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Plant_City_Stadium" title="Plant City Stadium">Plant City Stadium</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_Pro" class="mw-redirect" title="USL Pro">USL Pro</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/VSI_Tampa_Bay_FC_(PDL)" title="VSI Tampa Bay FC (PDL)">VSI Tampa Bay FC (PDL)</a></td> <td>2011–2013</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Plant_City_Stadium" title="Plant City Stadium">Plant City Stadium</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Premier_Development_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Premier Development League">Premier Development League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/VSI_Tampa_Bay_FC_(W-League)" title="VSI Tampa Bay FC (W-League)">VSI Tampa Bay FC (W-League)</a></td> <td>2011–2013</td> <td>Soccer</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Plant_City_Stadium" title="Plant City Stadium">Plant City Stadium</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/USL_W-League_(1995%E2%80%932015)" title="USL W-League (1995–2015)">W-League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Marine_Raiders" title="Florida Marine Raiders">Florida Marine Raiders</a></td> <td>2012–2015</td> <td>Indoor Football</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Lakeland_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Lakeland Center">Lakeland Center</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ultimate_Indoor_Football_League" title="Ultimate Indoor Football League">Ultimate Indoor Football League</a> (2012–2013), <a href="/wiki/X-League_Indoor_Football" title="X-League Indoor Football">X-League Indoor Football</a> (2014–2015)</td> <td>1: <a href="/wiki/2014_X-League_Indoor_Football_season" title="2014 X-League Indoor Football season">X-Bowl I</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Tarpons" title="Florida Tarpons">Lakeland Tarpons</a></td> <td>2012-2019</td> <td>Indoor Football</td> <td><a href="/wiki/RP_Funding_Center" title="RP Funding Center">RP Funding Center</a></td> <td></td> <td>2: 2013, 2015 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Sarasota_Thunder" title="Sarasota Thunder">Sarasota Thunder</a></td> <td>2012–2013</td> <td>Indoor Football</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Robarts_Arena" title="Robarts Arena">Robarts Arena</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ultimate_Indoor_Football_League" title="Ultimate Indoor Football League">Ultimate Indoor Football League</a></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Vipers" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Vipers">Tampa Bay Vipers</a> </td> <td>2020 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_football" title="American football">American football</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/XFL_(2020)" class="mw-redirect" title="XFL (2020)">XFL</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Tornadoes" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Tornadoes">Tampa Bay Tornadoes</a> </td> <td>2020–2021 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Indoor_American_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Indoor American football">Indoor football</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/RP_Funding_Center" title="RP Funding Center">RP Funding Center</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Arena_League" title="American Arena League">American Arena League</a> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Bandits_(2022)" title="Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)">Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)</a> </td> <td>2022 </td> <td>Football </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Protective_Stadium" title="Protective Stadium">Protective Stadium</a><sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>b<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/United_States_Football_League_(2022)" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Football League (2022)">United States Football League (2022)</a> </td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Major_championship_events_hosted_in_Tampa_Bay">Major championship events hosted in Tampa Bay</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Major championship events hosted in Tampa Bay"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Tampa has hosted five <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl" title="Super Bowl">Super Bowls</a>. <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XVIII" title="Super Bowl XVIII">Super Bowl XVIII</a> (1984) and <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXV" title="Super Bowl XXV">Super Bowl XXV</a> (1991) were held in <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a>; <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXV" title="Super Bowl XXXV">Super Bowl XXXV</a> (2001), <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLIII" title="Super Bowl XLIII">Super Bowl XLIII</a> (2009), and <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a> (2021) were played in Raymond James Stadium. In Super Bowl LV, the Buccaneers became the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. They defeated the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a> 31–9 in the game.</li> <li>Two <a href="/wiki/World_Series" title="World Series">World Series</a> games were played in St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field in the fall of <a href="/wiki/2008_World_Series" title="2008 World Series">2008</a> when the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> hosted the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Phillies" title="Philadelphia Phillies">Philadelphia Phillies</a>.</li> <li>Four <a href="/wiki/Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="Stanley Cup Finals">Stanley Cup Finals</a> games were played in Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum, now <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a>, late in the spring of <a href="/wiki/2004_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2004 Stanley Cup Finals">2004</a> when the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> hosted the <a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a>. Three games were hosted in <a href="/wiki/2015_Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="2015 Stanley Cup Finals">2015</a> as the Lightning faced the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, and another three in each of 2021 and 2022 when they played the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> and <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a>, respectively.</li> <li>Three <a href="/wiki/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%9384)" class="mw-redirect" title="North American Soccer League (1968–84)">NASL</a> <a href="/wiki/Indoor_soccer" title="Indoor soccer">indoor soccer</a> championships were hosted by the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%9393)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a> in St. Petersburg: <a href="/wiki/1976_NASL_Indoor_tournament" title="1976 NASL Indoor tournament">1976</a>, <a href="/wiki/1979%E2%80%9380_NASL_Indoor_season" class="mw-redirect" title="1979–80 NASL Indoor season">1979–80</a> and <a href="/wiki/1981%E2%80%9382_NASL_Indoor_season" class="mw-redirect" title="1981–82 NASL Indoor season">1981–82</a>.</li> <li>Three <a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl" title="ArenaBowl">ArenaBowls</a> were hosted by the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Storm" title="Tampa Bay Storm">Tampa Bay Storm</a>: <a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_IX" title="ArenaBowl IX">ArenaBowl IX</a> in 1995 (at Tropicana Field), <a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_XII" title="ArenaBowl XII">ArenaBowl XII</a> in 1998, and <a href="/wiki/ArenaBowl_XVII" title="ArenaBowl XVII">ArenaBowl XVII</a> in 2003 (both at Amalie Arena).</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/1999_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament" title="1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament">1999 NCAA Division I Men's Final Four</a> was played at Tropicana Field</li> <li>Amalie Arena hosted the <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_tournament" title="NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament">NCAA Division I Women's Final Four</a> in <a href="/wiki/2008_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_tournament" title="2008 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament">2008</a>, <a href="/wiki/2015_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_tournament" title="2015 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament">2015</a>, and <a href="/wiki/2019_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_tournament" title="2019 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament">2019</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship</a> final has been played in Tampa on five occasions. It was played at Tampa Stadium in <a href="/wiki/1978_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1978 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">1978</a>, <a href="/wiki/1979_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1979 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">1979</a> and <a href="/wiki/1980_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1980 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">1980</a> and played at the <a href="/wiki/USF_Track_and_Field_Stadium" title="USF Track and Field Stadium">USF Soccer Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/1990_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1990 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">1990</a> and <a href="/wiki/1991_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1991 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship">1991</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship">NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship</a> final has been played in Tampa on seven occasions, the most for any location. The <a href="/wiki/1983_NCAA_Division_II_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1983 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship">1983</a>, <a href="/wiki/1987_NCAA_Division_II_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1987 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship">1987</a>, <a href="/wiki/1992_NCAA_Division_II_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1992 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship">1992</a>, <a href="/wiki/1994_NCAA_Division_II_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="1994 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship">1994</a>, and <a href="/wiki/2001_NCAA_Division_II_Men%27s_Soccer_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="2001 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship">2001</a> editions were played on the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa</a> campus at <a href="/wiki/Pepin-Rood_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Pepin-Rood Stadium">Pepin-Rood Stadium</a>. The 2008 and 2009 editions were played at its replacement on the same site, <a href="/wiki/Pepin_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Pepin Stadium">Pepin Stadium</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/1990_Davis_Cup" title="1990 Davis Cup">1990 Davis Cup Final</a> was played in St. Petersburg at Tropicana Field, then known as the Florida Suncoast Dome.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/2009_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_volleyball_tournament" title="2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament">2009</a> and <a href="/wiki/2023_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_volleyball_tournament" title="2023 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament">2023</a> NCAA <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_volleyball_tournament" title="NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament">Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four</a> were held at Amalie Arena</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/2012_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Ice_Hockey_Tournament" class="mw-redirect" title="2012 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament">2012</a>, <a href="/wiki/2016_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Ice_Hockey_Tournament" class="mw-redirect" title="2016 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament">2016</a>, and <a href="/wiki/2023_Frozen_Four" class="mw-redirect" title="2023 Frozen Four">2023</a> NCAA <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Ice_Hockey_Tournament" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament">Men's Frozen Four</a> were all held at Amalie Arena. To date this is the farthest South the tournament finals have been staged.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/2015_NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Golf_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="2015 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship">2015 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship</a> and <a href="/wiki/2015_NCAA_Division_I_Women%27s_Golf_Championship" class="mw-redirect" title="2015 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship">2015 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship</a> were held at the Concession Golf Club in <a href="/wiki/Bradenton,_Florida" title="Bradenton, Florida">Bradenton</a> and hosted by USF.</li> <li>In 2012, <a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a> hosted the second leg of the <a href="/wiki/Soccer_Bowl_2012" title="Soccer Bowl 2012">NASL Championship Series</a> between the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Stars_FC" class="mw-redirect" title="Minnesota Stars FC">Minnesota Stars FC</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> hosted the <a href="/wiki/2017_College_Football_Playoff_National_Championship" title="2017 College Football Playoff National Championship">2017 College Football Playoff National Championship</a>.</li> <li>Tampa Stadium played host to the <a href="/wiki/1984_USFL_season" title="1984 USFL season">1984 USFL Championship Game</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Each spring at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> hosts the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Equestrian_Federation" title="United States Equestrian Federation">USEF</a>'s top 30 ranked equestrians compete at the American Invitational for the sport's largest purse.<sup id="cite_ref-stadiumjumping.com/t.e_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stadiumjumping.com/t.e-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The University of Tampa's <a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Bob Martinez Sports Center</a> hosted the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Final Four.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Al Lang Stadium hosted the <a href="/wiki/2021_USL_Championship_Playoffs#USL_Championship_Final" class="mw-redirect" title="2021 USL Championship Playoffs">2021 USL Championship Final</a></li> <li>Tampa will host the 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four and the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds at Amalie Arena.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Other_events">Other events</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Other events"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Other notable sporting events in the area include: </p> <ul><li>The NCAA football <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Football_Bowl_Subdivision" title="NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision">Division I FBS</a> <a href="/wiki/ReliaQuest_Bowl" title="ReliaQuest Bowl">ReliaQuest Bowl</a> at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a> is held in Tampa each January, usually on <a href="/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day">New Year's Day</a></li> <li>The NCAA football <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Football_Bowl_Subdivision" title="NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision">Division I FBS</a> <a href="/wiki/Gasparilla_Bowl" title="Gasparilla Bowl">Gasparilla Bowl</a> is also held at Raymond James Stadium, typically in December. It was originally played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg under several names before being moved to Tampa in 2018.</li> <li>The NCAA football <a href="/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Shrine_Game" class="mw-redirect" title="East–West Shrine Game">East–West Shrine Game</a> has been held annually at Tropicana Field since 2012.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Derby" title="Tampa Bay Derby">Tampa Bay Derby</a> <i>(Grade II)</i> thoroughbred horse race is held annually in mid March at <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Downs" title="Tampa Bay Downs">Tampa Bay Downs</a> near <a href="/wiki/Oldsmar" class="mw-redirect" title="Oldsmar">Oldsmar</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/USHRA" class="mw-redirect" title="USHRA">USHRA</a> holds an event every January at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/IndyCar_Series" title="IndyCar Series">NTT IndyCar Series</a> <a href="/wiki/Firestone_Grand_Prix_of_St._Petersburg" class="mw-redirect" title="Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg">Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg</a> is held on a course encompassing the <a href="/wiki/Albert_Whitted_Airport" title="Albert Whitted Airport">Albert Whitted Airport</a> and streets in the Bayfront area in <a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg,_Florida" title="St. Petersburg, Florida">St. Petersburg</a>. The race has been held in 2003 & 2005–present. Other motorsports events include the <a href="/wiki/Sports_Car_Club_of_America" title="Sports Car Club of America">SCCA</a> <a href="/wiki/Trans-Am_Series" title="Trans-Am Series">Trans-Am Series</a>, which competed at the Bayfront area from 1985 to 1990, and at a course surrounding <a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a> from 1996 to 1997. In 1989 and 1990, <a href="/wiki/International_Motor_Sports_Association" class="mw-redirect" title="International Motor Sports Association">IMSA</a> held a race at the <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_Fairgrounds" title="Florida State Fairgrounds">Florida State Fairgrounds</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/1978_Pro_Bowl" title="1978 Pro Bowl">1978 NFL Pro Bowl</a> was held in Tampa at <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/1999_NHL_All-Star_Game" class="mw-redirect" title="1999 NHL All-Star Game">1999</a> and <a href="/wiki/2018_NHL_All-Star_Game" class="mw-redirect" title="2018 NHL All-Star Game">2018 NHL All-Star Games</a> were held in <a href="/wiki/Tampa" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa">Tampa</a> at <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a>.</li> <li>The 2008 and 2009 <a href="/wiki/ACC_Championship_Game" title="ACC Championship Game">ACC Championship Games</a> for football were held at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Derby" title="Tampa Bay Derby">Tampa Bay Derby</a> <i>(Grade II)</i> thoroughbred horse race is held annually in mid March at <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Downs" title="Tampa Bay Downs">Tampa Bay Downs</a> near <a href="/wiki/Oldsmar" class="mw-redirect" title="Oldsmar">Oldsmar</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/NTT_IndyCar_Series" class="mw-redirect" title="NTT IndyCar Series">NTT IndyCar Series</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Firestone_Grand_Prix_of_St._Petersburg" class="mw-redirect" title="Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg">Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg</a> is held annually during the first weekend of April.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/United_States_Equestrian_Federation" title="United States Equestrian Federation">USEF</a>'s top 30 ranked equestrians compete each spring in the American Invitational for the sport's largest purse in Tampa at <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-stadiumjumping.com/t.e_33-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stadiumjumping.com/t.e-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_PHF_season#Playoffs" title="2021–22 PHF season">2022 Isobel Cup playoffs</a> were held at AdventHealth Center Ice in <a href="/wiki/Wesley_Chapel,_Florida" title="Wesley Chapel, Florida">Wesley Chapel</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Current_venues">Current venues</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Current venues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Raymond_James_Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Raymond James Stadium"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a></div> <p>Raymond James Stadium is home to the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> and the <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_football_team" class="mw-redirect" title="South Florida Bulls football team">South Florida Bulls football team</a>. The stadium seats 65,618, which can be expanded to about 75,000 for special events with the addition of temporary seating. The stadium has been the site of three <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl" title="Super Bowl">Super Bowls</a>: <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXV" title="Super Bowl XXXV">Super Bowl XXXV</a> in 2001, <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XLIII" title="Super Bowl XLIII">Super Bowl XLIII</a> in 2009, and <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LV" title="Super Bowl LV">Super Bowl LV</a> in 2021. Raymond James Stadium is the home of the annual <a href="/wiki/Outback_Bowl" class="mw-redirect" title="Outback Bowl">Outback Bowl</a> (since 1999) and <a href="/wiki/Gasparilla_Bowl" title="Gasparilla Bowl">Gasparilla Bowl</a> (since 2018) and was the site of the <a href="/wiki/College_Football_Playoff_National_Championship" title="College Football Playoff National Championship">College Football Playoff National Championship</a> in <a href="/wiki/2017_College_Football_Playoff_National_Championship" title="2017 College Football Playoff National Championship">2017</a>. Raymond James Stadium was also the site of <a href="/wiki/WrestleMania_37" title="WrestleMania 37">WrestleMania 37</a> in April 2021. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Amalie_Arena">Amalie Arena</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Amalie Arena"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg/225px-St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg" decoding="async" width="225" height="122" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg/338px-St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg/450px-St_Pete_Times_Forum_At_Sunset.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2046" data-file-height="1110" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a> </figcaption></figure><p>Amalie Arena is located in downtown Tampa's <a href="/wiki/Channel_District,_Tampa,_Florida" class="mw-redirect" title="Channel District, Tampa, Florida">Channelside District</a> and is home to the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>. Other entertainment events occasionally held in the arena include concerts, <a href="/wiki/National_Basketball_Association" title="National Basketball Association">NBA</a> exhibition games, <a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">USF</a> <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_men%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls men's basketball">men's basketball</a> and <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament" title="NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament">NCAA men's</a> and <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_tournament" title="NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament">women's basketball tournament</a> games, and <a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_Men%27s_Ice_Hockey_Tournament" class="mw-redirect" title="NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament">Frozen Four</a> games. </p><div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tropicana_Field">Tropicana Field</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Tropicana Field"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a></div> <p>Tropicana Field is an indoor domed stadium in <a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg,_Florida" title="St. Petersburg, Florida">St. Petersburg</a> that is home to the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays" title="Tampa Bay Rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. It has also hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning, college football bowl games, <a href="/wiki/WWE_ThunderDome" title="WWE ThunderDome">WWE ThunderDome</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/1999_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament" title="1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament">1999 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Al_Lang_Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Al Lang Stadium"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a></div> <p>Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg is home to the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a>. It opened in 1947 and was used as a minor league baseball field for most of its history. It is named for a former mayor of St. Pete. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Yuengling_Center">Yuengling Center</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Yuengling Center"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Yuengling_Center" title="Yuengling Center">Yuengling Center</a></div> <p>The Yuengling Center (formerly the USF Sun Dome) is an indoor arena on the campus of the <a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a>. It is currently used by the USF <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_men%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls men's basketball">men's basketball team</a>, <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_women%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls women's basketball">women's basketball team</a>, and <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_volleyball" title="South Florida Bulls volleyball">women's volleyball team</a>, as well as other university events. It opened in 1980. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Historical_venues">Historical venues</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Historical venues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tampa_Stadium1.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Tampa_Stadium1.jpg/250px-Tampa_Stadium1.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="166" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Tampa_Stadium1.jpg/375px-Tampa_Stadium1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Tampa_Stadium1.jpg/500px-Tampa_Stadium1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1185" data-file-height="785" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a> in early 1998</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tampa_Stadium">Tampa Stadium</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Tampa Stadium"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a></div> <p><b>Tampa Stadium</b> was the first large modern sports venue in the area, holding over 73,000 fans in its final configuration. It was built in 1967 for the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa#Athletics" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa Spartans</a> college football program with an eye toward future NFL expansion. "Tampa U" discontinued its football program in 1974, but Tampa Stadium was soon put back to use when the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies_(1975%E2%80%9393)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a> began play in 1975 and the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers" title="Tampa Bay Buccaneers">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> kicked off in 1976. </p><p>In its day, the "Big Sombrero" was also home to the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Bandits" title="Tampa Bay Bandits">Tampa Bay Bandits</a> of the <a href="/wiki/USFL" class="mw-redirect" title="USFL">USFL</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Mutiny" title="Tampa Bay Mutiny">Tampa Bay Mutiny</a> of <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Soccer" title="Major League Soccer">MLS</a>, and <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_football" title="South Florida Bulls football">USF Bulls football</a>. It hosted two Super Bowls and a <a href="/wiki/Pro_Bowl" title="Pro Bowl">Pro Bowl</a> along with numerous special events and large concerts, such as a 1973 <a href="/wiki/Led_Zeppelin" title="Led Zeppelin">Led Zeppelin</a> concert that broke the all-time record for the largest crowd to see a single artist<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and a 1977 Led Zeppelin concert that was cut short by a <a href="/wiki/Thunderstorm" title="Thunderstorm">thunderstorm</a>, leading to an audience riot.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Immediately upon buying the Buccaneers in 1995, new owner <a href="/wiki/Malcolm_Glazer" title="Malcolm Glazer">Malcolm Glazer</a> declared Tampa Stadium inadequate and demanded that a new facility be built at public expense or he would move the team. Local governments acquiesced, raising <a href="/wiki/Sales_tax" title="Sales tax">sales taxes</a> and constructing Raymond James Stadium directly adjacent to Tampa Stadium.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Big Sombrero was demolished in 1998. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Al_López_Field"><span id="Al_L.C3.B3pez_Field"></span>Al López Field</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Al López Field"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Al_Lopez_Field.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Al_Lopez_Field.JPG/250px-Al_Lopez_Field.JPG" decoding="async" width="250" height="85" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Al_Lopez_Field.JPG/375px-Al_Lopez_Field.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Al_Lopez_Field.JPG/500px-Al_Lopez_Field.JPG 2x" data-file-width="620" data-file-height="210" /></a><figcaption>Al López Field in 1979</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Al_L%C3%B3pez_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Al López Field">Al López Field</a></div> <p><b>Al López Field</b> was a spring training and minor league ballpark in Tampa situated at the current location of Raymond James Stadium. It was built in 1954 and named after <a href="/wiki/Al_L%C3%B3pez" title="Al López">Al López</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Ybor_City" title="Ybor City">Ybor City</a> native who went on become Tampa's first MLB player and, eventually, a <a href="/wiki/Baseball_Hall_of_Fame" class="mw-redirect" title="Baseball Hall of Fame">Hall of Fame</a> manager. The ballpark was originally the spring training home of the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_White_Sox" title="Chicago White Sox">Chicago White Sox</a>. Coincidentally, Al López became the manager of the White Sox in <a href="/wiki/1957_Major_League_Baseball_season" title="1957 Major League Baseball season">1957</a> and spent several spring trainings at a hometown facility named after himself. </p><p>The White Sox moved out and the <a href="/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds" title="Cincinnati Reds">Cincinnati Reds</a> moved in for 1960. The Reds would use Al López Field and the adjacent training facilities (nicknamed "Redsland") as their spring home for almost 30 years. The <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Tarpons_(1957%E2%80%931988)" title="Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)">Tampa Tarpons</a>, the Reds' Class-A team, played in the ballpark during the summer, and several members of Cincinnati's championship-winning "<a href="/wiki/Big_Red_Machine" title="Big Red Machine">Big Red Machine</a>" such as <a href="/wiki/Pete_Rose" title="Pete Rose">Pete Rose</a>. <a href="/wiki/Johnny_Bench" title="Johnny Bench">Johnny Bench</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Dave_Concepci%C3%B3n" title="Dave Concepción">Dave Concepción</a> played some of their first professional baseball in Tampa. </p><p>The Reds moved to new facilities in nearby <a href="/wiki/Plant_City,_Florida" title="Plant City, Florida">Plant City</a> for spring training 1988. The Tarpons played one more season in the ballpark before it was torn down in 1989. To honor its still-living namesake, the city of Tampa changed the name of a nearby park from "Horizon Park" to "Al López Park".<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Plant_Field">Plant Field</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: Plant Field"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a></div> <p><b>Plant Field</b> was the first large spectator sports facility in the area. It was built in 1889 by <a href="/wiki/Henry_B._Plant" title="Henry B. Plant">Henry B. Plant</a> across the Hillsborough River from Tampa as part of his <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Hotel" class="mw-redirect" title="Tampa Bay Hotel">Tampa Bay Hotel</a> resort. As the only facility of its kind in <a href="/wiki/Central_Florida" title="Central Florida">Central Florida</a>, Plant Field hosted a wide variety of events, including auto and horse racing; pro, college, and high school football; and large political events. It was also the long-time location of the <a href="/wiki/Florida_State_Fair" title="Florida State Fair">Florida State Fair</a>, and the route of the <a href="/wiki/Gasparilla_Pirate_Festival" title="Gasparilla Pirate Festival">Gasparilla parade</a> would end on Plant Field's track while the fair was in session.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Plant Field was the original home of the minor league <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Smokers" title="Tampa Smokers">Tampa Smokers</a>, the area's first professional baseball team, and was one of the first spring training sites in Florida, hosting several different teams over the decades. During one of the earliest ballgames in April 1919, <a href="/wiki/Babe_Ruth" title="Babe Ruth">Babe Ruth</a> reportedly hit his longest home run – a 587-foot blast that is memorialized with a historical marker at the approximate spot where it landed at the current site of the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Tampa" title="University of Tampa">University of Tampa</a>'s school of business.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The University of Tampa took over Plant Field in the early 1970s and renamed it <b>Peppin-Rood Stadium</b> after university benefactors. Since then, the school has built new facilities on its huge footprint, including a soccer field (Peppin Stadium), softball and baseball fields, <a href="/wiki/Dormitory" title="Dormitory">dormitories</a>, and other academic and athletic facilities.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While some of the original playing surface is still in use as part of newer venues, the last remaining portions of Plant Field's old <a href="/wiki/Grandstand" title="Grandstand">grandstand</a> was torn down in 2002.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Phillips_Field">Phillips Field</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: Phillips Field"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Phillips_Field_(Florida)" title="Phillips Field (Florida)">Phillips Field (Florida)</a></div> <p><b>Phillips Field</b> was a medium-sized stadium (maximum capacity approximately 20,000) located just north of Plant Field between Cass Street and the current location of <a href="/wiki/Interstate_275_(Florida)" title="Interstate 275 (Florida)">Interstate 275</a> on the west bank of the Hillsborough River. It served as the home for the University of Tampa's football team from 1936 to 1967 and was named after I. W. Phillips, a local businessman who donated the land to the school so that the Spartans would not have to share Plant Field.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Besides "Tampa U" home games, Phillips Field occasionally hosted other football contests. It was the site of the <a href="/wiki/Cigar_Bowl" title="Cigar Bowl">Cigar Bowl</a>, the area's first college <a href="/wiki/Bowl_game" title="Bowl game">bowl game</a>, from 1946 to 1954, and the <a href="/wiki/Florida_Gators_football" title="Florida Gators football">Florida Gators</a> scheduled several home games at the facility during the 1930s and 1940s. Phillips Field was also the site of several well-attended <a href="/wiki/NFL_preseason" title="NFL preseason">NFL preseason</a> contests in the mid-1960s that helped Tampa earn an eventual expansion franchise.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> And local <a href="/wiki/High_school_football" title="High school football">high school</a> rivalry games which attracted crowds too large for the participants' smaller stadiums were played in Phillips Field until the late 1960s, when newly built Tampa Stadium took over that role. </p><p>Phillips Field could also be configured for baseball, and the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Smokers" title="Tampa Smokers">Tampa Smokers</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Class_C_(baseball)" class="mw-redirect" title="Class C (baseball)">Class C</a> <a href="/wiki/Florida_International_League" title="Florida International League">Florida International League</a> played most of their home games there from 1946 to 1954. </p><p>When Tampa Stadium was completed in 1967, the city gave Plant Field to the University of Tampa, and Phillips Field fell into disuse. It was razed in the early 1970s, and <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Preparatory_School" title="Tampa Preparatory School">Tampa Preparatory School</a> and <a href="/wiki/Julian_Lane_(politician)" class="mw-redirect" title="Julian Lane (politician)">Julian Lane</a> Riverfront Park were built at its former location.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Curtis_Hixon_Hall">Curtis Hixon Hall</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=40" title="Edit section: Curtis Hixon Hall"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg/200px-Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="169" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg/300px-Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg/400px-Curtis_hixon_hall_1965.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="507" /></a><figcaption>Curtis Hixon Hall in 1965</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Curtis_Hixon_Hall" title="Curtis Hixon Hall">Curtis Hixon Hall</a></div> <p><b>Curtis Hixon Hall</b> was a multipurpose facility built in 1965 on the banks of the <a href="/wiki/Hillsborough_River_(Florida)" title="Hillsborough River (Florida)">Hillsborough River</a> in <a href="/wiki/Downtown_Tampa" title="Downtown Tampa">downtown Tampa</a>. Along with many concerts. conventions, and special events, Curtis Hixon Hall hosted many professional and amateur <a href="/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> and <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">wrestling</a> cards and served as the first home of the <a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a>'s <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls" title="South Florida Bulls">basketball programs</a> and a series of minor league basketball teams. </p><p>Curtis Hixon Hall was made obsolete by the construction of newer and larger facilities such as the <a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Ice Palace (now the Amalie Arena)</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Sun_Dome" class="mw-redirect" title="Sun Dome">Sun Dome</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Convention_Center" title="Tampa Convention Center">Tampa Convention Center</a>. It was demolished in 1993 and replaced with Curtis Hixon Park. In 2010, a new <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Museum_of_Art" title="Tampa Museum of Art">Tampa Museum of Art</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Glazer_Children%27s_Museum" title="Glazer Children's Museum">Glazer Children's Museum</a> opened on the site of the old hall, while a redesigned <a href="/wiki/Curtis_Hixon_Waterfront_Park" title="Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park">Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park</a> debuted in adjacent open space. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Bayfront_Center">Bayfront Center</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: Bayfront Center"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a></div> <p>The <b>Bayfront Center</b> (also known as the <b>Bayfront Arena</b>) was a multipurpose facility along the shores of <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay" title="Tampa Bay">Tampa Bay</a> near downtown St. Petersburg. Though a little larger than Tampa's Curtis Hixon Hall, it was built in the same year (1965) and hosted a similar mix of concerts, sports, and special events. The Tampa Bay Rowdies played most of their home <a href="/wiki/Indoor_soccer" title="Indoor soccer">indoor soccer</a> matches in the facility during the 1980s, and a handful of minor league basketball and hockey teams also called it home. Several nationally televised wrestling and boxing events were held there, along with annual <a href="/wiki/Ringling_Bros._and_Barnum_%26_Bailey_Circus" title="Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus">Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus</a> TV specials. The Bayfront Center also hosted some <a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls_men%27s_basketball" title="South Florida Bulls men's basketball">USF men's basketball</a> games throughout the 1970s. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Relocated to <a href="/wiki/Rapid_City,_South_Dakota" title="Rapid City, South Dakota">Rapid City, South Dakota</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">All USFL games during the 2022 season were played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The team never actually played a game in Tampa.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sports_in_Florida" title="Sports in Florida">Sports in Florida</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&action=edit&section=44" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFChu2021" class="citation web cs1">Chu, Andrea (February 5, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/tampa-bay-sports-incredible-year/67-371c7c09-b7bb-4e54-89db-6a6201c389df">"Bucs' Super Bowl Bid Caps Off an Incredible Year for Tampa Bay Sports"</a>. <i>WTSP</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">July 8,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=WTSP&rft.atitle=Bucs%27+Super+Bowl+Bid+Caps+Off+an+Incredible+Year+for+Tampa+Bay+Sports&rft.date=2021-02-05&rft.aulast=Chu&rft.aufirst=Andrea&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wtsp.com%2Farticle%2Fsports%2Ftampa-bay-sports-incredible-year%2F67-371c7c09-b7bb-4e54-89db-6a6201c389df&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBaker2021" class="citation web cs1">Baker, Matt (February 8, 2021). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/02/09/tampa-bay-joins-elite-company-with-second-pro-title-in-a-year/">"Tampa Bay Joins Elite Company with Second Pro Title in a Year"</a>. <i>Tampa Bay Times</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-03-31</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com&rft.atitle=Year-End+Awards%3A+Best+Sports+City&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsbusinessjournal.com%2FJournal%2FIssues%2F2021%2F12%2F20%2FYear-in-Review%2FCity.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-city-of-tampa-to-host-boat-parade-fan-rally/c-319226540">"Lightning, City of Tampa to host boat parade, fan rally"</a>. <i>NHL.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Lane canceled due to weather"</a>. <i>www.baynews9.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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April 7, 2012. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stadiumjumping.com/t.e.html#!invitational/c11xy">the original</a> on 2012-05-07<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-11-24</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.ncaa.com&rft.atitle=2021+NCAA+DII+women%27s+volleyball+championship+selections+announced+%7C+NCAA.com&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncaa.com%2Fnews%2Fvolleyball-women%2Farticle%2F2021-11-22%2F2021-ncaa-dii-womens-volleyball-championship-selections&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://gousfbulls.com/news/2020/10/15/general-athletics-to-host-three-upcoming-ncaa-championship-events-in-tampa.aspx">"Athletics to Host Three Upcoming NCAA Championship Events in Tampa"</a>. <i>USF Athletics</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-10-20</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=USF+Athletics&rft.atitle=Athletics+to+Host+Three+Upcoming+NCAA+Championship+Events+in+Tampa&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fgousfbulls.com%2Fnews%2F2020%2F10%2F15%2Fgeneral-athletics-to-host-three-upcoming-ncaa-championship-events-in-tampa.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/phf-to-award-isobel-cup-in-florida-on-espn2">"PHF To Award Isobel Cup in Florida on ESPN2"</a>. <i>PHF</i>. February 9, 2022.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=PHF&rft.atitle=PHF+To+Award+Isobel+Cup+in+Florida+on+ESPN2&rft.date=2022-02-09&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.premierhockeyfederation.com%2Fnews%2Fphf-to-award-isobel-cup-in-florida-on-espn2&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ledzeppelin.com/">"Led Zeppelin | Official Website Tampa Stadium - May 5, 1973"</a>. <i>Led Zeppelin | Official Website - Official Website</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-11-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Led+Zeppelin+%26%23124%3B+Official+Website+-+Official+Website&rft.atitle=Led+Zeppelin+%26%23124%3B+Official+Website+Tampa+Stadium+-+May+5%2C+1973&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledzeppelin.com%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ledzeppelin.com/">"Led Zeppelin | Official Website Tampa Stadium - June 3, 1977"</a>. <i>Led Zeppelin | Official Website - Official Website</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-11-23</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Led+Zeppelin+%26%23124%3B+Official+Website+-+Official+Website&rft.atitle=Led+Zeppelin+%26%23124%3B+Official+Website+Tampa+Stadium+-+June+3%2C+1977&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledzeppelin.com%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASports+in+the+Tampa+Bay+area" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110612192007/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/content/raymond-james-stadium-project-reminder-glazers-sweetheart-deal">Raymond James Stadium project a reminder of the Glazers' sweetheart deal | Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog: Bucs Beat | tampabay.com & St. Petersburg Times</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tampapix.com/allopezpark3.htm">"AL LOPEZ PARK Page 3"</a>. <i>www.tampapix.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Howell, June 6, 2003"</a>. <i>ufdc.ufl.edu</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <dl><dt><a href="/wiki/Women%27s_Flat_Track_Derby_Association" title="Women's Flat Track Derby Association">WFTDA</a></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Roller_Derby" title="Tampa Roller Derby">Tampa Roller Derby</a></dd></dl> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Association_football" title="Association football">Soccer</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <dl><dt><a href="/wiki/USL_Super_League" title="USL Super League">USLS</a></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Sun_FC" title="Tampa Bay Sun FC">Tampa Bay Sun FC</a></dd> <dt><a href="/wiki/USL_Championship" title="USL Championship">USLC</a></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rowdies" title="Tampa Bay Rowdies">Tampa Bay Rowdies</a></dd> <dt><a href="/wiki/USL_League_Two" title="USL League Two">USL2</a></dt> <dd>St. Petersburg FC</dd> <dd>Sarasota Paradise FC</dd> <dd>Swan City SC</dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_United_SC" title="Tampa Bay United SC">Tampa Bay United SC</a></dd> <dt><a href="/wiki/USL_W_League" title="USL W League">USLW</a></dt> <dd>Swan City SC</dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_United_SC" title="Tampa Bay United SC">Tampa Bay United SC</a></dd> <dt><a href="/wiki/United_Premier_Soccer_League" title="United Premier Soccer League">UPSL</a></dt> <dd>Clearwater Chargers SC</dd> <dd>FISA Elite</dd> <dd>Florida Premier FC</dd> <dd>Lakeland United FC</dd> <dd>St. Petersburg Aztecs</dd></dl> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Indoor_soccer" title="Indoor soccer">Soccer (indoor)</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <dl><dt><a href="/wiki/National_Indoor_Soccer_League" title="National Indoor Soccer League">NISL</a></dt> <dd>Tampa Bay Strikers</dd></dl> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/College_athletics_in_the_United_States" title="College athletics in the United States">College<br />athletics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <dl><dt><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_I" title="NCAA Division I">NCAA Division I</a></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/South_Florida_Bulls" title="South Florida Bulls">South Florida Bulls</a></dd></dl> <dl><dt><a href="/wiki/NCAA_Division_II" title="NCAA Division II">NCAA Division II</a></dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Eckerd_Tritons" title="Eckerd Tritons">Eckerd Tritons</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Saint_Leo_Lions" title="Saint Leo Lions">Saint Leo Lions</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Spartans" title="Tampa Spartans">Tampa Spartans</a></dd></dl> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Category:Sports_venues_in_the_Tampa_Bay_Area" title="Category:Sports venues in the Tampa Bay Area">Major<br />sports<br />venues</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <dl><dt>Current venues</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Raymond_James_Stadium" title="Raymond James Stadium">Raymond James Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tropicana_Field" title="Tropicana Field">Tropicana Field</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Amalie_Arena" title="Amalie Arena">Amalie Arena</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/George_M._Steinbrenner_Field" title="George M. Steinbrenner Field">George M. Steinbrenner Field</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Spectrum_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Spectrum Field">Spectrum Field</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Al_Lang_Stadium" title="Al Lang Stadium">Al Lang Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Dunedin_Stadium_(Florida)" class="mw-redirect" title="Dunedin Stadium (Florida)">Dunedin Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Yuengling_Center" title="Yuengling Center">Yuengling Center</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Corbett_Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="Corbett Stadium">Corbett Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/USF_Baseball_Stadium" title="USF Baseball Stadium">USF Baseball Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Bob_Martinez_Sports_Center" title="Bob Martinez Sports Center">Bob Martinez Sports Center</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Jack_Russell_Memorial_Stadium" title="Jack Russell Memorial Stadium">Jack Russell Memorial Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Expo_Hall" title="Expo Hall">Expo Hall</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/RP_Funding_Center" title="RP Funding Center">RP Funding Center</a></dd></dl> <dl><dt>Former venues</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Stadium" title="Tampa Stadium">Tampa Stadium</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Al_Lopez_Field" title="Al Lopez Field">Al Lopez Field</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Bayfront_Center" title="Bayfront Center">Bayfront Center</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Curtis_Hixon_Hall" title="Curtis Hixon Hall">Curtis Hixon Hall</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Plant_Field" title="Plant Field">Plant Field</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Phillips_Field_(Florida)" title="Phillips Field (Florida)">Phillips Field</a></dd></dl> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Tampa_Bay_area" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background: #FF9C1A"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Tampa_Bay_Area" title="Template:Tampa Bay Area"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Tampa_Bay_Area" title="Template talk:Tampa Bay Area"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Tampa_Bay_Area" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Tampa Bay Area"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Tampa_Bay_area" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_area" title="Tampa Bay area">Tampa Bay area</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background: #FF9C1A;width:1%">Topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;color: #000033;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay" title="Tampa Bay">Tampa Bay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Climate_of_the_Tampa_Bay_area" title="Climate of the Tampa Bay area">Climate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_Tampa,_Florida" title="History of Tampa, Florida">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Media_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area" title="Media in the Tampa Bay area">Media</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Sports</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tampa_International_Airport" title="Tampa International Airport">Tampa International Airport</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hillsborough_County_Public_Schools" title="Hillsborough County Public Schools">Hillsborough County Public Schools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pinellas_County_Schools" title="Pinellas County Schools">Pinellas County Schools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/University_of_South_Florida" title="University of South Florida">University of South Florida</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background: #FF9C1A;width:1%">Central cities</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;color: #000033;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tampa,_Florida" title="Tampa, Florida">Tampa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/St._Petersburg,_Florida" title="St. Petersburg, Florida">St. Petersburg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clearwater,_Florida" title="Clearwater, Florida">Clearwater</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background: #FF9C1A;width:1%">Smaller communities</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;color: #000033;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pinellas_Park,_Florida" title="Pinellas Park, Florida">Pinellas Park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Temple_Terrace,_Florida" title="Temple Terrace, Florida">Temple Terrace</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brandon,_Florida" title="Brandon, Florida">Brandon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zephyrhills,_Florida" title="Zephyrhills, Florida">Zephyrhills</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Plant_City,_Florida" title="Plant City, Florida">Plant City</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Largo,_Florida" title="Largo, Florida">Largo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dunedin,_Florida" title="Dunedin, Florida">Dunedin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarpon_Springs,_Florida" title="Tarpon Springs, Florida">Tarpon Springs</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutz,_Florida" title="Lutz, Florida">Lutz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sun_City_Center,_Florida" title="Sun City Center, Florida">Sun City Center</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background: #FF9C1A;width:1%">Counties in <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_statistical_area" title="Metropolitan statistical area">MSA</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;color: #000033;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hernando_County,_Florida" title="Hernando County, Florida">Hernando</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hillsborough_County,_Florida" title="Hillsborough County, Florida">Hillsborough</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pasco_County,_Florida" title="Pasco County, Florida">Pasco</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pinellas_County,_Florida" title="Pinellas County, Florida">Pinellas</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background: #FF9C1A"><div><i>See also:</i> <span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Flag_of_Florida.svg/23px-Flag_of_Florida.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Flag_of_Florida.svg/35px-Flag_of_Florida.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Flag_of_Florida.svg/45px-Flag_of_Florida.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="200" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&oldid=1257394244">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sports_in_the_Tampa_Bay_area&oldid=1257394244</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" 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