Sports in Florida
Florida gained its first permanent major-league professional sports team in 1966 when the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins.
The state of Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.
The following year, the Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season culminating in a Super Bowl win.
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 of Tony Dungy in 1996 started an improving trend that eventually led to the team's victory in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 under coach Jon Gruden.
[3] The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the NFL as an expansion team in the 1995 season; they play their home games at EverBank Stadium.
Florida has a rich baseball history and has long been home to minor league teams and spring training.
In 1993, the Miami Marlins became the first Major League Baseball team to call Florida home.
After a decade of futility, the Rays won the 2008 American League Pennant and made it to the World Series but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The team won the 2020 American League Pennant and made it back to the World Series but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
[12] Due to the travel restrictions derived from the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Toronto Raptors temporarily relocated to Tampa, playing their home games at Amalie Arena.
[14][15] The Miami Screaming Eagles co-founded the World Hockey Association in 1971, but never played due to a lack of a suitable arena.
Former MLS franchises in Florida include the Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996 to 2001) and the Miami Fusion (1998 to 2001).
Prior to MLS, Florida was previously represented in the original FIFA-backed, major professional North American Soccer League (NASL) by the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
The Rowdies drew good crowds at Tampa Stadium, and won the Soccer Bowl in 1975.
The Strikers franchise was originally based in Miami, and nicknamed the Toros (1972 to 1976) before moving to nearby Fort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the 1977 season.
The franchise played their home matches at the Orange Bowl and Lockhart Stadium, and made two Soccer Bowl appearances: losing in 1974 and 1980. Notable NASL footballers who played in Florida include Rodney Marsh (Rowdies) and German legend Gerd Müller (Strikers).
[23] 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.
At the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host multiple matches.
[30] In 2024, Tampa Bay Sun FC became the second professional women's soccer team in Florida.
First run in 1952, the world's leading drivers and manufacturers have competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring for over six decades.
The Gainesville Raceway hosts the annual Gatornationals, one of the major NHRA drag events.
Miami's major sports teams have won two Super Bowls, three NBA Finals, two World Series, and one Stanley Cup.
Tampa's major sports teams have won two Super Bowls and three Stanley Cups.
