Sports

The beloved Tampa Bay Rays play their scrappy brand of baseball at Tropicana Field, an air-conditioned dome in St. Petersburg that keeps fans comfortable and dry during hot summer days and soaking showers. The regular season stretches from April to September. In 2020, the Rays made it all the way to the World Series. Kids love posing for photos with Raymond, the Rays’ goofy mascot, visiting with cownose rays in the touch tank and running the bases after Sunday home games.  

Two Major League baseball teams hold their spring training games in the St. Pete-Clearwater area during February and March each year. The Philadelphia Phillies play at BayCare Park in Clearwater, and the Toronto Blue Jays play at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, just north of Clearwater. Several teams prepare for Opening Day less than an hour away, including the New York Yankees (Tampa), Pittsburgh Pirates (Bradenton), Baltimore Orioles (Sarasota), Detroit Tigers (Lakeland) and Atlanta Braves (North Port). With careful planning, you can embark on a road trip from St. Pete to see all 15 Grapefruit League teams play across Florida.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies, who were USL co-champions in 2020 and league runner-ups in 2021, draw enthusiastic fans to the 7,500-seat Al Lang Stadium on the St. Pete bayfront from March to October. Join the green-and-yellow-clad Ralph’s Rowdies (named after the fictional footballer in the team’s logo) to cheer on the home team during fast-paced soccer matches. 

The Tampa Bay Sun is Tampa Bay's first professional female team and part of the USL Super League. Games are played a short drive away near downtown Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their preseason football games (August) and regular season home games (September to December) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, approximately 30 minutes from St. Pete. The Buccaneers, who claimed Super Bowl championships for the 2002 and 2020 seasons, have won three consecutive NFC South Division championships since 2021 and are the only NFC team to advance to the playoffs each of the four seasons from 2020-2023.  

The Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League won it all in 2020 and again in 2021, bringing home hockey’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, twice in a row and for the third time in team history. From January to May, the Lightning plays its exciting home games at Amalie Arena, across the bay from St. Pete. Want to see a game without the fuss of driving and parking? Catch the Cross-Bay Ferry from downtown St. Pete – it drops you off just steps from where they play in downtown Tampa, and brings fans back home 30 minutes after the game ends.

It should come as no surprise that Florida in general, and the St. Pete/Clearwater area specifically, is paradise for golfers. The ability to play year-round in a place famous for its sunny weather – plus the wide variety of courses – makes playing a round or two easy (though plenty challenging once you step up to the tee!). Take your pick from more than 50 courses ranging from the popular and budget-friendly Mangrove Bay municipal course to the fabulous courses at Innisbrook, where PGA TOUR golfers vie for championships. Brush up on your skills with a lesson from a pro and check out the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection in St. Pete and the Dunedin Golf Club in Dunedin, among many others.

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