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The U.S. state ofFlorida has threeNational Football League teams, twoMajor League Baseball teams, twoNational Basketball Association teams, twoNational Hockey League teams, twoMajor League Soccer teams and 13NCAA Division I college teams.
Florida gained its first permanent major-league professional sports team in 1966 when theAmerican Football League added theMiami Dolphins. The state of Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.[1]
The sports industry of Florida has a strong economic impact, The Florida Sports Foundation (2022) states that in the fiscal years of 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 professional sports had accounted for $10.2 billion and college athletics contributed $5.5 billion in Florida’s economy. The sports industry provided about $146.5 billion overall. Florida's sports industry represents about 14% of all the tourism towards Florida and there has been a generated $24.9 billion in total economic impact from the 36 sports commissions. This also applies towards the job market, as new jobs become available with almost a million-part time and full-time jobs generating about $13.9 billion in state and local taxes. These statistics visualize the importance of sports in Florida’s economy, and the associated impact must be valued to understand the influence on Florida’s markets and other related factors involved.[2]
Miami's first entry into theAmerican Football League was theMiami Dolphins, which competed in the fourth AFL league from 1966 to 1969. In 1970 the Dolphins joined theNational Football League when theAFL–NFL merger, agreed to in 1966, was finalized.[3] The team made its firstSuper Bowl appearance inSuper Bowl VI, but lost to theDallas Cowboys.The following year, the Dolphins completed the NFL's onlyperfect season culminating in a Super Bowl win. The 1972 Dolphins were the third NFL team to accomplish a perfectregular season, and wonSuper Bowl VIII, Miami also appeared inSuper Bowl XVII andSuper Bowl XIX, losing both games. The Dolphins are the oldestmajor league professional sports team in Florida.[3]
TheTampa Bay Buccaneers began in1976 as an expansion team of the NFL.[4] They struggled at first, losing their first 26 games in a row to set a league record for futility. After a brief taste of success in the late 1970s, the Bucs again returned to their losing ways, and at one point lost 10+ games for 12 seasons in a row. The hiring ofTony Dungy in1996 started an improving trend that eventually led to the team's victory inSuper Bowl XXXVII in2003 under coachJon Gruden. InSuper Bowl LV, theBucs became the first NFL team to host and play in the Super Bowl, where they defeated theKansas City Chiefs 31-9.[4]
Tom Brady had come out of his 40 day retirement to football and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Rob Gronkowski who is said by many to be Tom Brady's best teamate, also decided to come out of retirement to join alongside him who played as a tight end for him for his entire career.[5] His first season with the team as quarterback, he brought home the Super Bowl LV win. It was an amazing journey and his legacy will never be forgotten.[6]
TheJacksonville Jaguars joined the NFL as anexpansion team in the 1995 season; they play their home games atEverBank Stadium.[7]
TheTampa Bay Vipers began play in theXFL in February 2020; they play their home games at Raymond James Stadium.[8]
TheWorld Football League featured theFlorida Blazers,Jacksonville Sharks andJacksonville Express, whereas theUnited States Football League included theTampa Bay Bandits,Jacksonville Bulls andOrlando Renegades. TheOrlando Rage played in the originalXFL in 2001, and theOrlando Apollos played in theAlliance of American Football in 2019.
The Miami metro area has hosted theSuper Bowl a total of eleven times (six Super Bowls atHard Rock Stadium, includingSuper Bowl LIV and five at theMiami Orange Bowl), tying New Orleans for the most games.[9] Tampa has hosted fiveSuper Bowls:Super Bowl XVIII (1984),Super Bowl XXV (1991),Super Bowl XXXV (2001),Super Bowl XLIII (2009), andSuper Bowl LV (2020). The first two events were held atTampa Stadium, and the other three atRaymond James Stadium. In 2005, Jacksonville hostedSuper Bowl XXXIX.
TheOrange Bowl is a major college football bowl, held at the Miami metropolitan area since 1935, and is currently a member of theCollege Football Playoff'sNew Year's Six.
Othercollege bowl games in Florida include theBoca Raton Bowl in Boca Raton, thePop-Tarts Bowl,Citrus Bowl, andCure Bowl in Orlando, theGasparilla Bowl andOutback Bowl in Tampa, and theGator Bowl in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville traditionally hosts theFlorida–Georgia game, an annualcollege football game between theUniversity of Florida and theUniversity of Georgia since 1933.
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Florida has a rich baseball history and has long been home to minor league teams and spring training.
In 1993, theMiami Marlins became the firstMajor League Baseball team to call Florida home. They won theWorld Series in 1997 and 2003.[10]
TheTampa Bay Rays began playing in 1998 atTropicana Field inSt. Petersburg. After a decade of futility, the Rays won the2008American LeaguePennant and made it to theWorld Series but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The team won the2020 American League Pennant and made it back to theWorld Series but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[11]
Recently, the Tropicana Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Rays play, was destroyed by Hurricane Milton. The city has been working hard to make sure it is back to its original form and is set to be done in December.[12]
15 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams conductspring training in the state, with teams informally organized into theGrapefruit League. Throughout MLB history, other teams have held spring training in Florida but now hold spring training in Arizona'sCactus League.[13]
Every Grapefruit League team also operates a minor league team in the rookie-levelFlorida Complex League and holds their spring training at that facility. Many of these teams also have an affiliate in the low-AFlorida State League (as do theCincinnati Reds, who are the only non-Grapefruit League team with a minor league affiliate in Florida). Two teams have Double A affiliates based in Florida.[13]
Within Florida’s economy spring training is something that has persisted even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficulties associated with the period, spring training activities had still generated about $680 million for the economic impact for the state of Florida during 2020 and 2021. This displays how the local economy is heavily impacted by sports as even before the pandemic occurred, such as in 2019, resulted in similar levels of revenue during the spring sessions, emphasizing its importance.[14]
Sports tourism is a significant part of Florida’s economic contributions, specifically during baseball’s spring training season, the Florida Grapefruit League (2024) states, a total of 1,428,096 fans attended 226 Florida Spring Training Games in the 2024 season, for an average of 6,319 fans per game. Sports are heavily linked to Florida’s cultural identity and it's correlation with economic development are visualized through the fan turnout that contributes towards local events and attractions associated with commerce.[15]
Minor league baseball teams in Florida include:[13]
| Team | MLB Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | Miami Marlins |
| Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Minnesota Twins |
Before Florida had its first NBA franchise, theMiami Floridians, later in their history known asThe Floridians, played in theAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 through 1972.
TheMiami Heat of theNational Basketball Association was formed in 1988 as anexpansion team. They have won three league championships (in2006,2012 and2013), plus seven conference titles.[16]
TheOrlando Magic began playing in NBA in 1989 as an expansion franchise. They have won the Eastern Conference championships in 1995 and 2009.[17]
In 2020, the NBA decided to finish the delayed NBA season in abubble in theESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. All of the teams relocated toWalt Disney World and played their games there.[18]
Due to the travel restrictions derived from theCOVID-19 pandemic, theToronto Raptors temporarily relocated to Tampa, playing their home games atAmalie Arena.[19]
Florida also had two WNBA teams: theOrlando Miracle (1999-2002) andMiami Sol (2000-2002).
Established in 1938, theTropical Hockey League was the first experiment with professional hockey in theAmerican South. It lasted for one season as a professional league, consisting of four teams all based in Miami, then was resurrected as an amateur league before folding in 1941.[20][21]
TheMiami Screaming Eagles co-founded theWorld Hockey Association in 1971, but never played due to a lack of a suitable arena.[22]
Florida is home to twoNational Hockey League teams. TheTampa Bay Lightning was established in 1992, and currently play their home games in theBenchmark International Arena, located indowntown Tampa. The Lightning have won theStanley Cup three times, in2004,2020, and2021. The Lightning also made the Stanley Cup Finals in2015 and2022, and made the Eastern Conference Final in2011,2017, and2018.[23]
TheFlorida Panthers was founded in 1993. The club originally played at theMiami Arena, before moving to what is now theAmerant Bank Arena in 1998. They have made four appearances in theStanley Cup Final, losing in1996 and2023, and winning back to backStanley Cups in2024[24] and2025, both times defeating theEdmonton Oilers.
Florida has threeECHL minor hockey league teams – theFlorida Everblades,Jacksonville Icemen, and theOrlando Solar Bears.[25]
Florida is home to two professional soccer franchises who compete inMajor League Soccer (MLS):Orlando City SC (since 2015) andInter Miami CF (since 2020). Former MLS franchises in Florida include theTampa Bay Mutiny (1996 to 2001) and theMiami Fusion (1998 to 2001).
Prior to MLS, Florida was previously represented in the originalFIFA-backed, major professionalNorth American Soccer League (NASL) by theTampa Bay Rowdies andFort Lauderdale Strikers. The Rowdies drew good crowds atTampa Stadium, and won theSoccer Bowl in 1975. The Strikers franchise was originally based in Miami, and nicknamed theToros (1972 to 1976) before moving to nearbyFort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the 1977 season. The franchise played their home matches at theOrange Bowl andLockhart Stadium, and made twoSoccer Bowl appearances: losing in1974 and1980. Notable NASL footballers who played in Florida includeRodney Marsh (Rowdies) and German legendGerd Müller (Strikers). The NASL folded in 1984, leaving the United States without a top-level soccer league until Major League Soccer (MLS) began play in 1996.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies Stadium, AI Lang Stadium, is being demolished and being turned into an outdoor amphitheater. They are planning on a four-story, 1,100-car parking garage, a 50,000-square-foot conference center with ground level retail with an open vista of the water.[26]
After over a decade without an MLS team,Orlando City SC joined the league in 2015 after five seasons asa second-level team.[27] The team played its first two MLS seasons at the venue now known as Camping World Stadium before opening Orlando City Stadium, now known asInter&Co Stadium, in 2017.[28] Orlando City's reserve side,Orlando City B, began play in the league now known as the USL Championship in 2016, suspended play after the 2017 season, and resumed play in 2019 as a founding member of the third-levelUSL League One. Orlando City would withdraw City B from League One after the 2020 season; City B did not play in the 2021 season, but resumed play in 2022 as a founding member of another third-level league,MLS Next Pro. In 2016, theOrlando Pride, operated by Orlando City, began play in theNational Women's Soccer League. They have played at the same venue as their parent club throughout their history.[29] In 2025, Inter&Co Stadium had hosted a new FC series, to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, which included matches against major Brazilian soccer clubs: Atlético Mineiro, São Paulo and Cruzeiro.[30]
Miami's MLS team,Inter Miami CF, is partly owned byDavid Beckham and began league play in 2020.[31] Inter Miami placed its own reserve side, Fort Lauderdale CF, in USL League One in 2020; that team would remain in USL1 until moving to MLS Next Pro in 2022 under the new name ofInter Miami CF II. Miami's other professional team,Miami FC, was founded in 2016 and currently plays in theUSL Championship.[32] The team initially played in the new, second-divisionNorth American Soccer League, then transitioned into theNational Premier Soccer League, before a season in theNational Independent Soccer Association, before making the jump to the Division II USL Championship where it plays today.[33]
The year 2023 was a particularly notable period for South Florida soccer. Multiple teams had made exceptional postseason runs, includingLionel Messi joining MLS’sInter Miami CF. This year was highlighted by the presence of the star athlete and his impact on the state as ticket prices for Inter Miami increased by nearly 1000%, significantly boosting the soccer scene for South Florida.[34]
Asecond Tampa Bay Rowdies club began play in 2010 as F.C. Tampa Bay, and now currently play in theUSL Championship (known before 2019 as the United Soccer League), joining the league after leaving the second-divisionNorth American Soccer League in 2016.[35][36] In this time, they've won one championship in the2012 North American Soccer League season. The Rowdies were also named co-league champions in 2020 after winning the USL Regular Season title and Eastern Conference Championship, but the title game was canceled due toCOVID-19.[37] They were Eastern Conference Champions again in 2021, but lost in the title game.[38]
During the1994 FIFA World Cup,Camping World Stadium inOrlando hosted several matches. At the upcoming2026 FIFA World Cup,Hard Rock Stadium inMiami Gardens will host multiple matches.[39]
In 2024,Tampa Bay Sun FC andFort Lauderdale United FC became the newest professional women's soccer teams in Florida. They both play in theUSL Super League, and the Sun defeated Fort Lauderdale in the title game to win the league title in their inaugural season.[40][41]
NASCAR (headquartered inDaytona Beach) begins all three of its major auto racing series in Florida atDaytona International Speedway in February, featuring theDaytona 500, andHomestead-Miami Speedway in October. Daytona also has theCoke Zero 400 NASCAR race weekend aroundIndependence Day in July. The24 Hours of Daytona is one of the world's most prestigious endurance auto races.
The12 Hours of Sebring sports car endurance race is the second largest sporting event in the State of Florida. Each year drawing a total of over 100,000+ fans. It is held in Sebring, Florida at theSebring International Raceway on the third week of March each year. It is one of the most prestigious car races in the world. Sebring International Raceway's legendary 12-hour endurance race was voted the fourth best auto race of the world's motorsports races in the USA Today 10Best competition. First run in 1952, the world's leading drivers and manufacturers have competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring for over six decades. The race attracts drivers and fans from all over the world.
TheGrand Prix of St. Petersburg andGrand Prix of Miami have heldIndyCar races as well.
TheGainesville Raceway hosts the annualGatornationals, one of the majorNHRA drag events.
TheMiami Grand Prix is aFormula One Grand Prix held at theMiami International Autodrome inMiami Gardens, Florida
ThePGA Tour is headquartered inPonte Vedra Beach, and theLPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach.[42][43] ThePGA of America (separate from the PGA Tour since 1968) was long based inPalm Beach Gardens before moving its headquarters toFrisco, Texas in 2022.
The Players Championship,WGC-Cadillac Championship,Arnold Palmer Invitational,Honda Classic andValspar Championship arePGA Tour rounds.
TheMiami Open is anATP Tour Masters 1000 andWTA Premier Mandatory tennis event, whereas theDelray Beach International Tennis Championships is anATP World Tour 250 event.
Florida is a major horse and greyhound racing market. Notable horse racetracks includeGulfstream Park,Calder,Hialeah Park,Pompano Park andTampa Bay Downs, whereas notable greyhound racetracks includeBig Easy Casino andDerby Lane.
TheMinto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, the largestpickleball tournament in the country, has been held since 2016 at the East Naples Community Park inNaples, Florida.[44] The city has been given the title "pickleball capital of the country".The Fort, inFort Lauderdale, Florida, is the home and training center for thePPA Tour.[45] The facility includes the world's first dedicated pickleball stadium.[46]
Several minor league baseball,football, basketball, soccer andindoor football teams are based in Florida.
Previously, theArena Football League had four different teams in Florida: theFlorida Bobcats (1993–2001),Orlando Predators (1991–2016),Tampa Bay Storm (1991–2017) andJacksonville Sharks (2010–2016).
Youth sports in Florida plays an economic and social rule towards the local community and the collaboration with grant systems and programs allows for growth locally. The Florida Sports Foundation (2023) states that “during the period of 2018-2022, FSF awarded 689 grants totaling $8.9 million with an economic impact of $3.1 billion”. The grant programs have been helping youth for over 25 years across amateur and professional events throughout the state. These grants are essential for cultivating growth within local communities across the state to assist the youth in generating an economic impact and helping young athletes compete in Florida[47]
Florida's universities have a number of notableNational Collegiate Athletic Association Division I programs, especially theFlorida State Seminoles andMiami Hurricanes of theAtlantic Coast Conference, theFlorida Gators of theSoutheastern Conference, and theUCF Knights of theBig 12 Conference. Other Division I teams include theFlorida Atlantic Owls,FIU Panthers,Jacksonville Dolphins,North Florida Ospreys, andSouth Florida Bulls.
Miami's five major professional sports franchises are theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League (NFL), theMiami Heat of theNational Basketball Association (NBA), theMiami Marlins ofMajor League Baseball (MLB), and theFlorida Panthers of theNational Hockey League (NHL), as well asInter Miami CF, theMajor League Soccer (MLS) expansion team headed byDavid Beckham. Miami's major sports teams have won two Super Bowls, three NBA Finals, two World Series, and two Stanley Cups.
The Miami area also has three NCAA Division I teams: theFIU Panthers in unincorporatedMiami-Dade County (with a Miami mailing address),Florida Atlantic Owls inBoca Raton, and theMiami Hurricanes inCoral Gables (withfootball sharing the Dolphins' stadium inMiami Gardens).
The Miami area was previously represented by theMiami Toros /Ft. Lauderdale Strikers franchise in the originalNorth American Soccer League (NASL) from 1972 to 1983; theMiami Fusion in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001; theMiami Floridians in theAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) from 1968 to 1972; and theMiami Sol who played at theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 2000 to 2002.
Tampa Bay is represented by three sports teams in thefour major leagues: theTampa Bay Buccaneers of theNational Football League, theTampa Bay Lightning of theNational Hockey League, and theTampa Bay Rays ofMajor League Baseball. Tampa's major sports teams have won two Super Bowls and three Stanley Cups. Tampa is also home toUSL Championship'sTampa Bay Rowdies and theUSL Super League'sTampa Bay Sun.
The Tampa Bay area is also home to fourMinor League Baseball teams: theBradenton Marauders,Clearwater Threshers,Dunedin Blue Jays, andTampa Tarpons. TheSouth Florida Bulls are Tampa's only Division I college team, though the area has several Division II teams, most notably theTampa Spartans.
Tampa was previously the home of two professional soccer franchises: theTampa Bay Rowdies in the originalNorth American Soccer League (NASL), and theTampa Bay Mutiny ofMajor League Soccer (MLS).
Orlando is the home city of two major league professional sports teams — theOrlando Magic of theNational Basketball Association (NBA), andOrlando City SC ofMajor League Soccer (MLS). Also, theOrlando Pride has competed in theNational Women's Soccer League since 2016.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have changed the game for the Orlando Magic Basketball team. Only together for three seasons, they have broken records and made history. They are the first pair of players to average 20.0 points per game since Shaquille O’ Neill and Anfernee Hardaway in 1995-1996.[48]
Orlando also has two minor league professional teams — theOrlando Solar BearsECHL ice hockey team, and theOrlando Anarchy of theWomen's Football Alliance. From 1991 to 2016, it was also home to theOrlando Predators of theArena Football League and during 2019 it was home of theOrlando Apollos of theAlliance of American Football.
In addition, two NCAA Division I teams call the Orlando area home: theStetson Hatters (who are based inDeLand) and theUCF Knights (based in unincorporatedOrange County with an Orlando mailing address).
From 1999 to 2002, theOrlando Miracle competed in theWomen's National Basketball Association before relocating to theMohegan Sun casino inConnecticut as theConnecticut Sun.
None of Orlando's major sports teams have won any championships, but minor teams have collectively won twoArenaBowls (1998, 2000), two titles inice hockey, three titles inminor league baseball, and two titles in soccer.
Jacksonville is home to one major league sports team, theJacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). They also have several minor league teams including theJacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for baseball,Jacksonville Sharks for indoor football, andJacksonville Icemen for hockey.
The Jacksonville Jaguars started up in 1995 of the National Football Conference (NFC) and then later, the National Football League (NFL). After an amazing few seasons, in 2000, that is when they started to deter and tallied the franchise-worst next six seasons.[49]
Jacksonville's two NCAA Division I teams are theJacksonville Dolphins and theNorth Florida Ospreys.
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