Sports teams in Florida

Sports teams in Florida include many professional, semi-professional, amateur and college teams. In professional sports, Florida has three National Football League teams, two Major League Baseball teams, two National Basketball Association teams, two National Hockey League teams, two Major League Soccer teams, one Women's Soccer team and many minor league teams in various sports. Additionally, since the late 19th century Florida has been a significant spring training destination for Major League Baseball teams and their affiliates.

The Miami Dolphins play at what was then the Sun Life Stadium.

In college sports, thirteen Florida schools compete in NCAA Division I.[1] Various others compete in other organizations including NCAA Division II, the NAIA, the NJCAA, the USCAA, and the NCCAA.

Professional major league teams
Location of major league teams in Florida

Florida has teams in all of the major league sports — National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer. In the early 1980s, Florida had major league teams in only the NFL. Florida has since added two NBA teams in the late 1980s. Florida added two NHL teams in the 1990s as part of the NHL's expansion into the south, and two MLB teams in the 1990s. Florida's most recent major-league team, Inter Miami CF, began play in MLS in 2020, after Florida's first MLS team since the folding of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion in 2001, Orlando City, joined in 2015.[2]

Club Sport League Venue Championships (Years) Founded
Miami Marlins Baseball MLB loanDepot Park 2 (1997, 2003) 1993
Tampa Bay Rays Baseball MLB Tropicana Field 0 1998
Miami Heat Basketball NBA Kaseya Center 3 (2006, 2012, 2013) 1988
Orlando Magic Basketball NBA Amway Center 0 1989
Jacksonville Jaguars Football NFL TIAA Bank Field 0 1993
Miami Dolphins Football NFL Hard Rock Stadium 2 (1972, 1973) 1966
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football NFL Raymond James Stadium 2 (2002, 2020) 1976
Florida Panthers Ice hockey NHL Amerant Bank Arena 0 1993
Tampa Bay Lightning Ice hockey NHL Amalie Arena 3 (2004, 2020, 2021) 1992
Inter Miami CF Soccer MLS DRV PNK Stadium (temporary)
Miami Freedom Park (future)		 2018
Orlando City SC Soccer MLS Exploria Stadium 2013
Miami Fusion* Soccer MLS Lockhart Stadium 1997
Tampa Bay Mutiny* Soccer MLS Raymond James Stadium 1996

*Team has folded

Spring training

Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit League." As of 2022, Florida hosts the following major league teams for spring training:

Club Location
Atlanta Braves North Port
Baltimore Orioles Sarasota
Boston Red Sox Fort Myers
Detroit Tigers Lakeland
Houston Astros West Palm Beach
Miami Marlins Jupiter
Minnesota Twins Fort Myers
New York Mets Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton
St. Louis Cardinals Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays Port Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays Dunedin
Washington Nationals West Palm Beach

Individual sports

Golf, tennis and auto racing are popular in Florida.

"Island Green" par-3 17th hole at
The Players Championship.

The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA), the trade association for club professionals which organizes major championships for men and women and also co-organizes the biennial Ryder Cup, is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens. The PGA Tour, which has been separate from the PGA of America since 1968, has its home base in Ponte Vedra Beach, while the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. The Players Championship, sometimes referred to as the fifth (men's) major, is held every year near Jacksonville. Additionally, the WGC Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Honda Classic and Valspar Championship are PGA Tour events.

In tennis, the Miami Open is an ATP Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier Mandatory event. The Delray Beach International Tennis Championships is an ATP World Tour 250 event.

NASCAR (headquartered in Daytona Beach) begins all three of its major auto racing series in Florida at Daytona International Speedway in February, featuring the Daytona 500, and ends all three Series in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Daytona also has the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR race weekend around Independence Day in July. The 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the world's most prestigious endurance auto races. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and Grand Prix of Miami have held IndyCar races as well.

Daytona International Speedway

Auto racing tracks

Minor league and semi-pro teams
Club Sport League Venue Championships (Years)
Orlando Guardians American football XFL Camping World Stadium 0
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Baseball MiLB, International League 121 Financial Ballpark 6 (1968, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Baseball MiLB, Southern League Pensacola Bayfront Stadium 0
Bradenton Marauders Baseball MiLB, Florida State League McKechnie Field 1 (2016)
Clearwater Threshers Baseball Spectrum Field 1 (2007)
Daytona Tortugas Baseball Jackie Robinson Ballpark 3 (1995, 2004, 2008)
Dunedin Blue Jays Baseball Knology Park 0
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Baseball Hammond Stadium 7 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 2018, 2018)
Jupiter Hammerheads Baseball Roger Dean Stadium 0
Lakeland Flying Tigers Baseball Joker Marchant Stadium 3 (1976, 1977, 1992)
Palm Beach Cardinals Baseball Roger Dean Stadium 1 (2005)
St. Lucie Mets Baseball Clover Park 5 (1988, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2006)
Tampa Tarpons Baseball George M. Steinbrenner Field 5 (1994, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010)
Osceola Magic Basketball NBA G League Silver Spurs Arena 1 (2021 as Lakeland Magic) Florida Flight Basketball Florida Basketball Association RDV Sportsplex 1 (2019)
Clermont Crocs Basketball American Basketball Association
Florida Basketball Association		 RDV Sportsplex 1 (2021)
Jacksonville Giants Basketball American Basketball Association VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 3 (2012, 2013, 2016)
Miami Midnites Basketball American Basketball Association
Florida Basketball Association		 David Posnack Jewish Community Center 3 (2014, 2015, 2016 in the FBA)
Florida Everblades Ice hockey ECHL Hertz Arena 2 (2012, 2022)
Jacksonville Icemen Ice hockey VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 0
Orlando Solar Bears Ice hockey Amway Center 0
Pensacola Ice Flyers Ice hockey SPHL Pensacola Civic Center 3 (2013, 2014, 2016)
Jacksonville Sharks Indoor football Indoor Football League VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 3 (2011, 2017, 2019, 2023)
Orlando Predators Indoor football National Arena League Amway Center 0
Florida Tropics SC Indoor soccer Major Arena Soccer League RP Funding Center 0
Jacksonville Axemen Rugby League USA Rugby League Hodges Stadium 2 (2010, 2012)
Lakeland Renegades Rugby league USA Rugby League All Saints Academy 0
Southwest Florida Copperheads Rugby league USA Rugby League Lehigh Senior High School 0
Tampa Mayhem Rugby league USA Rugby League Tampa Catholic High School 0
Orlando Pride Soccer National Women's Soccer League Exploria Stadium 0
Miami FC Soccer USL Championship Riccardo Silva Stadium 3 (2018 & 2019 in NPSL), (2019 in NISA)
Tampa Bay Rowdies Soccer Al Lang Stadium 2 (1975 and 2012 in NASL)
Inter Miami CF II Soccer MLS Next Pro DRV PNK Stadium 0
Club de Lyon Soccer National Independent Soccer Association Daytona Stadium 0
Beaches FC Soccer National Premier Soccer League 0
Central Florida Panthers SC Soccer National Premier Soccer League Showalter Field 0
Jacksonville Armada FC Soccer National Premier Soccer League Hodges Stadium 0
Miami United FC Soccer National Premier Soccer League 0
Naples United FC Soccer National Premier Soccer League 0
Storm FC Soccer National Premier Soccer League 0
IMG Academy Bradenton Soccer USL League Two 0
Lakeland Tropics Soccer USL League Two Bryant Stadium 0
FC Miami City Soccer USL League Two 0
North County United Soccer USL League Two 0
Next Academy Palm Beach Soccer USL League Two 0
SIMA Águilas Soccer USL League Two 0
The Villages SC Soccer USL League Two 0
Weston FC Soccer USL League Two 0
Boca Raton FC Soccer United Premier Soccer League Lynn University 1 (2015 in APSL)
Fort Lauderdale Herd BC Basketball National Basketball League - US Joseph C. Carter Center 0

College sports
Main article: List of college athletic programs in Florida
School Nickname City Affiliation Conference National
Championships
ASA College Miami Silver Storm Miami NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Ave Maria University Gyrenes Ave Maria NAIA The Sun Conference
Barry University Buccaneers Miami Shores NCAA Sunshine State Conference
Bethune–Cookman University Wildcats Daytona Beach NCAA DI Southwestern Athletic Conference 0
Broward College Seahawks Davie NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Chipola College Indians Marianna NJCAA DI Panhandle Conference
Clearwater Christian College Cougars Clearwater NCCAA DII 17
College of Central Florida Patriots Ocala NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Daytona State College Falcons Daytona Beach NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Eastern Florida State College Titans Melbourne NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Eckerd College Tritons Saint Petersburg NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference
Edward Waters University Tigers Jacksonville NCAA DII Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles Daytona Beach NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 19
Florida International University (FIU) Panthers Miami NCAA DI Conference USA 4
Flagler College Saints Saint Augustine NCAA DII Peach Belt Conference
University of Florida Gators Gainesville NCAA DI Southeastern Conference 39
Florida A&M University Rattlers Tallahassee NCAA DI Southwestern Athletic Conference 25
Florida Atlantic University Owls Boca Raton NCAA DI Conference USA
(American Athletic Conference in July 2023)		 2
Florida College Falcons Temple Terrace NAIA
USCAA DI		 Southern States Athletic Conference 23
Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles Fort Myers NCAA DI ASUN Conference 0
Florida Memorial University Lions Miami Gardens NAIA The Sun Conference
Florida National University Conquistadors Hialeah USCAA DI
Florida Southern College Moccasins Lakeland NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 30
Florida SouthWestern State College Buccaneers Fort Myers NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Florida State University Seminoles Tallahassee NCAA DI Atlantic Coast Conference 15
Florida State College at Jacksonville Bluewave Jacksonville NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tach) Panthers Melbourne NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 2
Gulf Coast State College Commodores Panama City NJCAA DI Panhandle Conference 4
Hillsborough Community College Hawks Tampa NJCAA DI Suncoast Conference
Indian River State College Pioneers Fort Pierce NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Jacksonville University Dolphins Jacksonville NCAA DI ASUN Conference 0
Johnson & Wales University Wildcats North Miami NAIA The Sun Conference
Johnson University Florida Suns Kissimmee NCCAA DII
Keiser University Seahawks West Palm Beach NAIA The Sun Conference
Lake-Sumter State College Lakehawks Leesburg NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Lynn University Fighting Knights Boca Raton NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 22
University of Miami Hurricanes Coral Gables NCAA DI Atlantic Coast Conference 21
Miami Dade College Sharks Miami NJCAA DI Southern Conference
University of North Florida Ospreys Jacksonville NCAA DI ASUN Conference 4
Northwest Florida State College Raiders Niceville NJCAA DI Panhandle Conference
Nova Southeastern University Sharks Fort Lauderdale NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 11
Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish West Palm Beach NCAA DII,
NCCAA DI		 Independent 0
Palm Beach State College Panthers Lake Worth NJCAA DI Southern Conference
Pasco–Hernando State College Conquistadors New Port Richey NJCAA DII
Pensacola Christian College Eagles Pensacola NCCAA DII
Pensacola State College Pirates Pensacola NJCAA DI Panhandle Conference
Polk State College Eagles Winter Haven NJCAA DI Suncoast Conference
Rollins College Tars Winter Park NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 22
St. Johns River State College Vikings Palatka NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Saint Leo University Lions St. Leo NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 0
St. Petersburg College Titans St. Petersburg NJCAA DI Suncoast Conference
Saint Thomas University Bobcats Miami Gardens NAIA The Sun Conference
Santa Fe College Saints Gainesville NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
Seminole State College of Florida Raiders Sanford NJCAA DI Mid-Florida Conference
University of South Florida Bulls Tampa NCAA DI American Athletic Conference 6
South Florida State College Panthers Avon Park NJCAA DI Suncoast Conference
Southeastern University Fire Lakeland NAIA,
NCCAA DI		 The Sun Conference 4
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota Manatees Bradenton NJCAA DI Suncoast Conference 13
Stetson University Hatters DeLand NCAA DI ASUN Conference 0
Tallahassee Community College Eagles Tallahassee NJCAA DI Panhandle Conference
University of Tampa Spartans Tampa NCAA DII Sunshine State Conference 18
Trinity Baptist College Eagles Jacksonville NCCAA DII
Trinity College (Florida) Tigers New Port Richey NCCAA DII
University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights Orlando NCAA DI American Athletic Conference
(Big 12 Conference in July 2023)		 2
Warner University Royals Lake Wales NAIA,
NCCAA DI		 The Sun Conference
Webber International University Warriors Babson Park NAIA The Sun Conference 0
University of West Florida Argonauts Pensacola NCAA DII Gulf South Conference 8

See also

References
  1. College Sports Scholarships. Accessed November 30, 2015.
  2. "Major League Soccer names Orlando City SC as 21st franchise, set for 2015 debut", MLSsoccer.com, November 19, 2013.
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