It’s no secret that there are countless reasons to visit the St. Petersburg / Tampa / Clearwater area. Endless sunshine, miles of beaches and more must-see attractions than we could possibly name. And one of the biggest? Our abundance of world-class sports teams. No matter what your game is, we’ve got all the on-field action you could possibly want to cheer on. Not sure where to start? Here’s an overview of all the ways you can enjoy yourself on game day with Tampa Bay sports.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The NFL’s “Bucs” are the pride of the NFC South division, and a perpetual playoff contender. Since coming into the league as an expansion team in 1976, the Bucs have distinguished themselves as one of the most formidable forces to be reckoned with in all of pro football. The team’s accolades include seven division championships, two conference championships, and even two Super Bowl victories. Autumn Sundays at Raymond James Stadium are always raucous, and attendees are left with no question as to why the Buccaneers’ home is often referred to as “Champa” Bay!
4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33607
Tampa Bay Rays
As one of the younger teams in Major League Baseball, the Rays began their tenure in the league as the Devil Rays, before adopting the more versatile “Rays” starting in the 2008 season (in order to refer not just to the area’s native marine life, but also our abundance of sunshine). The Rays always put on a fantastic day of baseball at Tropicana Field, often on their way into the postseason (where they’ve taken home several pennants and division titles). So if you’re in the mood for a game, head out to The Trop, grab some peanuts and Cracker Jack, and root for the home team!
1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Tampa Bay Lightning
When you think of Florida, vast sheets of ice may not be the first thing that immediately comes to mind. Still the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning (also known locally as the “Bolts”) have spent more than three decades bringing the sort of fast-paced pro hockey action their name would suggest to Amalie Arena. Along the way, they’ve brought home a whopping eight division and conference championships combined, as well as three Stanley Cup wins, two back to back.
401 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
Other Teams
In addition to hosting three major league franchises, the Tampa Bay area is also home to many other pro, collegiate, and semi-pro teams filled with hungry up-and-comers who give it their all every game day. Soccer fans can check out the USL's Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium, watch the University of South Florida Bulls play Division I football at Raymond James, or watch the Bulls of USF’s Basketball teams dominate the court at the Yuengling Center.
