Editing Tampa, Florida (section)

==Sports==
{{main|Sports in the Tampa Bay Area}}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Team
!League
!Stadium
!First season
!Championships
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]
|[[National Football League]] (NFL)
|[[Raymond James Stadium]]
|1976
|2 ([[Super Bowl XXXVII|XXXVII]], [[Super Bowl LV|LV)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbxxxvii |title=Super Bowl XXXVII Box Score: Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21 |publisher=National Football League |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126153203/http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sbxxxvii |archive-date=November 26, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/boxscore/sblv |title=Super Bowl LV Box Score: Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9 |publisher=National Football League}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
|[[National Hockey League]] (NHL)
|[[Amalie Arena]]
|1992
|3 ([[2004 Stanley Cup Finals|2004]], [[2020 Stanley Cup Finals|2020]], [[Stanley Cup Finals|2021]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/2004.html |title=2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster and Statistics {{!}} Hockey-Reference.com |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211015725/http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/2004.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Rays]]
|[[Major League Baseball]] (MLB)
|[[George M. Steinbrenner Field]]
|1998
|0
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Rowdies]]
|[[United Soccer League]] (USL)
|[[Al Lang Stadium]] (St. Petersburg)
|1975 [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|(original club)]], 2010 (current club)
|3 ([[Soccer Bowl '75|1975]], [[Soccer Bowl 2012|2012]], [[2020 USL Championship season|2020]]*)
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Titans]]
|[[The Basketball League]] (TBL)
|[[A. P. Leto High School]]
|2019
|0
|-
|[[Tampa Bay Sun FC|Tampa Bay Sun]]
|[[USL Super League]]
|[[Riverfront Stadium (Tampa)|Riverfront Stadium]]
|2024–25
|0
|-
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Co-champions, championship game canceled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Times Staff Writer |title=Rowdies' championship match canceled after coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/10/31/rowdies-championship-match-postponed-according-to-report/ |access-date=2021-06-17 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614034914/https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rowdies/2020/10/31/rowdies-championship-match-postponed-according-to-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tampa is currently represented by teams in three major professional sports leagues: the [[National Football League]], the [[National Hockey League]], and [[Major League Baseball]]. The [[NFL]]'s [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] and the [[NHL]]'s [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] call Tampa home, while the [[Tampa Bay Rays]] of the [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] play across the bay in [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]] (though they spent the 2025 season at [[George M. Steinbrenner Field]] following the damage to [[Tropicana Field]] by [[Hurricane Milton]]). As indicated by their names, these teams, plus several other sports teams, represent the entire [[Tampa Bay Area|Tampa metropolitan area]]. Tampa Bay's professional teams have won eight combined championships in their respective leagues.

The Tampa Bay area has long been a site for Major League Baseball [[spring training]] facilities and [[minor league baseball]] teams. The [[New York Yankees]] conduct spring training in Tampa, and their [[Low-A (baseball)|Low-A]] affiliate [[Tampa Tarpons]] play there in the summer.

On the collegiate level, the [[South Florida Bulls|University of South Florida Bulls]] compete in 17 sports in [[NCAA Division I]] and the [[Tampa Spartans|University of Tampa Spartans]] compete in 20 sports in [[NCAA Division II]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Athletics and Fitness {{!}} University of South Florida |url=https://www.usf.edu/campus-life/athletics-fitness.aspx |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=www.usf.edu |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027191546/https://www.usf.edu/campus-life/athletics-fitness.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=University of Tampa Athletics |url=https://www.tampaspartans.com/landing/index |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=University of Tampa Athletics |language=en |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101005238/https://www.tampaspartans.com/landing/index |url-status=live }}</ref>

Between September 2020 and July 2021 all three of Tampa Bay's major teams, as well as the Tampa Bay Rowdies, qualified for their sport's championship series. The Lightning beat the Dallas Stars in the [[2020 Stanley Cup Finals]], the Rays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the [[2020 World Series]], the Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC were named co-league champions after the USL Championship game was canceled due to [[COVID-19]], the Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the first home-game victory in [[Super Bowl LV|Super Bowl]] history, and the Lightning beat the Montreal Canadiens in the [[2021 Stanley Cup Finals]]. This dynasty earned the area the nickname "'''Champa Bay'''".<ref>{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Matt |date=February 8, 2021 |title=Tampa Bay Joins Elite Company with Second Pro Title in a Year |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/02/09/tampa-bay-joins-elite-company-with-second-pro-title-in-a-year/ |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190907/https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/02/09/tampa-bay-joins-elite-company-with-second-pro-title-in-a-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title='Champa Bay' celebrates third pro title in less than a year |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/champa-bay-celebrates-pro-third-title-in-less-than-a-year/ |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185556/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/champa-bay-celebrates-pro-third-title-in-less-than-a-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Football===

====Buccaneers====

The [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] began in [[1976 NFL season|1976]] as an expansion team of the [[NFL]]. 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 at least 10 games for 12 seasons in a row.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/ |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Encyclopedia - Pro-Football-Reference.com |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=March 23, 2018 |archive-date=March 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316042248/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The hiring of [[Tony Dungy]] in [[1996 NFL season|1996]] started an improving trend that eventually led to the team's victory in [[Super Bowl XXXVII]] in [[2002 NFL season|2003]] under coach [[Jon Gruden]]. They won their second championship in [[Super Bowl LV]] with quarterback Tom Brady and became the first NFL team to ever win a Super Bowl at their home stadium.

====Storm====
Originally the Pittsburgh Gladiators and a charter member of the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL), the [[Tampa Bay Storm]] relocated from [[Pittsburgh]] in [[1991 Arena Football League season|1991]] and won [[ArenaBowl V]] that year. They later won 4 more [[ArenaBowl]]s ([[ArenaBowl VII|VII]], [[ArenaBowl IX|IX]], [[ArenaBowl X|X]], and [[ArenaBowl XVII|XVII]], and also appeared in [[ArenaBowl I]], [[ArenaBowl III|III]], [[ArenaBowl XII|XII]], [[ArenaBowl XXIII|XXIII]] and [[ArenaBowl XXX|XXX]]), and their five championships were the most in league history.<ref>{{cite web |title=ArenaBowl |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/history/arenabowl.html |website=arenafootball.com |access-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102172741/http://www.arenafootball.com/history/arenabowl.html |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The AFL suffered through several years of decreasing revenue in the 2010s, leading to fewer active franchises. There were only five teams during the [[2017 Arena Football League season|2017 season]], after which the Storm's ownership group suspended operations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2017/12/21/tampa-bay-storm-suspending-operations/ |title=Tampa Bay Storm suspending operations |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222014736/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/2017/12/21/tampa-bay-storm-suspending-operations/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Bandits====
Tampa was also home to the [[Tampa Bay Bandits]] of the [[United States Football League]]. The Bandits made the playoffs twice in their three seasons under head coach [[Steve Spurrier]] and drew league-leading crowds to Tampa Stadium, but the team folded along with the rest of the USFL after the [[1985 USFL season|1985 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/story/happy-anniversary-bandits-you-were-fun/ |title=Breakfast Bonus – Tom McEwen- from TBO.com Sports |work=tboblogs.com |access-date=January 16, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716194713/http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/story/happy-anniversary-bandits-you-were-fun/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Bandits – USFL (United States Football League) |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/bandits.php |website=oursportscentral.com |access-date=December 25, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102172739/http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/bandits.php |url-status=live }}</ref> They played at [[Tampa Stadium]], which hosted the 1984 USFL Championship Game.<ref>{{cite web |title=USFL.info – Tampa Bay Bandits |url=http://www.usfl.info/bandits/ |website=usfl.info |access-date=December 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214034029/http://www.usfl.info/bandits/ |archive-date=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

====Vipers====
The [[Tampa Bay Vipers]] play in the second edition of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]]. Their inaugural season was cut short after five weeks due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The team relocated to [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], and now are the [[Las Vegas Vipers]].

====Tornadoes====
The [[Tampa Bay Tornadoes]] were founded in 2020 and describe themselves as the successors to the defunct Tampa Bay Storm. They play in the [[American Arena League]].

===Baseball===
{{main|Baseball in the Tampa Bay area}}

====History====
The Tampa Bay area has long been home to nationally competitive amateur baseball and has hosted [[spring training]] and [[minor league baseball|minor league]] teams for over a century. Tampa became the first city in Florida to host a major league team for spring training in 1913, when the [[Chicago Cubs]] trained at [[Plant Field]]. The [[Tampa Smokers]] were the city's first minor league team, beginning play as charter members of the new [[Florida State League]] in 1919.

====Rays====
After decades of trying to lure an existing [[Major League Baseball]] franchise, the Tampa Bay area finally gained a team in 1998, when the expansion [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay Devil Rays]] began play at [[Tropicana Field]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]]. After a decade of futility on the field, the Devil Rays shortened their nickname to simply Rays in 2008 and promptly won the [[2008 American League Championship Series|2008]] [[American League]] [[American League Championship Series|Pennant]], finishing runner up in [[2008 World Series|World Series]]. They also won [[American League East]] titles in 2008 and 2010 under manager [[Joe Maddon]] before slipping back in the standings.

In 2007, the Rays began the process of searching for a stadium site closer to the center of the area's population, possibly in Tampa.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Tampa Bay Rays can leave Tropicana Field contract |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2015/10/23/tampa-bay-rays-tropicana-field-contract |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 19, 2016 |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206180533/http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/10/23/tampa-bay-rays-tropicana-field-contract |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/19/group-seeks-land-rays-stadium-downtown-tampa/sports-rays/ |title=Group seeks land for Rays stadium in downtown Tampa |publisher=.tbo.com |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-date=May 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525061439/http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/19/group-seeks-land-rays-stadium-downtown-tampa/sports-rays/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, over a decade later, rivalry between Tampa and St. Petersburg and the challenges of financing a new ballpark have kept the Rays playing at Tropicana Field.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-more-urgency-needed-on-rays-stadium-search/2318586/ |title=Editorial: More urgency needed on Rays stadium search |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=March 23, 2018 |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322195233/http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-more-urgency-needed-on-rays-stadium-search/2318586 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, the Rays won the AL East for the first time in a decade with the best record in the American League.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sharkey-Gotlieb |first=Simon |title=Rays clinch AL's No. 1 seed, will face Yankees or Blue Jays |url=https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2029712 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=theScore.com |date=September 26, 2020 }}</ref> Due to the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] shortened season, 16 teams made the playoffs, so the Rays had to play a best of 3 series against the division rival Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the [[2020 Tampa Bay Rays season#Postseason|Rays postseason]], where they swept the visitors in two games at [[Tropicana Field]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 30, 2020 |title=Renfroe slam helps Rays sweep young Blue Jays in 1st round |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-mlb-new-york-toronto-tampa-bay-rays-497e2c47e7a778827db29cd397161610 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=AP NEWS |archive-date=October 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004100652/https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-mlb-new-york-toronto-tampa-bay-rays-497e2c47e7a778827db29cd397161610 |url-status=live }}</ref> then play a divisional series against the New York Yankees, which they won in 5 games at a neutral site in San Diego.<ref>{{cite news |title=MLB playoffs: Rays knock out Yankees with late homer, advance to ALCS – Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/10/10/rays-beat-yankees-advance-alcs-mlb-playoffs |access-date=October 18, 2020 |newspaper=Sports Illustrated |archive-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015150900/https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/10/10/rays-beat-yankees-advance-alcs-mlb-playoffs |url-status=live }}</ref> The Rays then faced the Astros, who had defeated them in the divisional round the previous year. Tampa Bay went out to a quick 3–0 series lead, but Houston came back to tie the series 3–3. The Rays avoided the reverse sweep in Game 7 and won their second American League Pennant, then lost the [[2020 World Series|World Series]] in 6 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>{{cite web |title='A pretty special feeling': Rays headed to WS |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-win-alcs-game-7-advance-to-world-series |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=MLB.com |language=en |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020175513/https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-win-alcs-game-7-advance-to-world-series |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:GSFieldTB.JPG|thumb|[[George M. Steinbrenner Field|Steinbrenner Field]]]]

====Low-A Southeast====
Several Major League baseball teams conduct [[Spring training|Spring Training]] in the area, and most also operate minor league teams in the [[Low-A]] [[Low-A Southeast|Southeast]]. The major league [[New York Yankees]] and the affiliated minor league [[Tampa Tarpons]] use [[George M. Steinbrenner Field]] across [[Dale Mabry Highway]] from Raymond James Stadium.

Across the bay in Pinellas County, the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] affiliate [[Clearwater Threshers]] and [[Toronto Blue Jays]] affiliate [[Dunedin Blue Jays]] also play in the Low-A Southeast. Other nearby Low-A Southeast teams include the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] affiliate [[Bradenton Marauders]] and the [[Detroit Tigers]] affiliate [[Lakeland Flying Tigers]]. The Phillies, Blue Jays, Pirates, and Tigers all play their Spring Training games at their minor league teams' ballparks.

The Tarpons have won five league titles, the Flying Tigers have won four, the Threshers have won two, and the Blue Jays and Marauders have each won one.

The area was formerly home to many teams in the former [[Florida State League]] that no longer exist, most notably the [[Tampa Smokers]], [[St. Petersburg Saints]], and the [[Tampa Tarpons (1957–1988)|original Tampa Tarpons]].

===Hockey===

====Lightning====
[[File:Amalie Arena.jpg|thumb|[[Amalie Arena]] is where the Tampa Bay Lightning have their home games.]]
The [[NHL]]'s [[Tampa Bay Lightning]], named after the city's propensity for attracting lightning unlike any other on the continent, was established in 1992, and play their home games at [[Amalie Arena]] in [[downtown Tampa]]. In [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals|2004]], the team won their first [[Stanley Cup]] by defeating the [[Calgary Flames]] in 7 games. After this first championship and an ensuing [[2004–05 NHL lockout|season-wide lockout]], the Lightning went 1–3 in four Conference Final appearances in [[2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs|2011]], [[2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs|2015]], [[2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs|2016]] and [[2018 Stanley Cup playoffs|2018]], winning only in 2015 to lose to the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] in the ensuing [[2015 Stanley Cup Finals|Finals]]. Then the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in [[2020 Stanley Cup Finals|2020]] and [[2021 Stanley Cup Finals|2021]] with victories over the [[Dallas Stars]] and fellow [[Atlantic Division (NHL)#2021–present|Atlantic Division]] member [[Montreal Canadiens]] respectively.

Tampa hosted the skills contests and [[63rd National Hockey League All-Star Game|2018 NHL All-Star Game]] weekend on January 27–28, 2018. Former captain [[Steve Stamkos]] is the franchise's top scorer with 555 goals across sixteen seasons before signing a new contract with the [[Nashville Predators]] after the [[2023–24 NHL season]].

===Soccer===

====Rowdies====
The [[Tampa Bay Rowdies]] compete in the [[USL Championship|United Soccer League Championship]] after spending their first 6 seasons in the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]]. The team began play at Tampa's [[George M. Steinbrenner Field]] in 2010, then moved to St. Petersburg's [[Al Lang Field]] in 2011. The Rowdies won their first league championship in [[Soccer Bowl 2012]]. The Rowdies made the USL Championship Final for the first time in 2020, though it was cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]]. The Rowdies and the other finalist, [[Phoenix Rising FC]], were named co-champions by the league.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Rowdies move on to USL Championship Final |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies-move-on-to-usl-championship-final/67-d40e8237-8c07-4df4-b4bd-86bba4fd8bca |access-date=October 28, 2020 |website=wtsp.com |date=October 25, 2020 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=October 31, 2020 |title=USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1130727-usl-championship-final-cancelled-season-concludes-with-tampa-bay-phoenix-as-conference-title-winners |access-date=November 1, 2020 |website=USL Championship |language=en-us |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126111608/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1130727-usl-championship-final-cancelled-season-concludes-with-tampa-bay-phoenix-as-conference-title-winners |url-status=live }}</ref>

Previously, Tampa had hosted two top-level soccer teams. The [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|original North American Soccer League]] was the area's first major sports franchise, beginning play in 1975 at Tampa Stadium. The Rowdies were an immediate success, drawing good crowds and winning [[Soccer Bowl '75]] in their first season to bring Tampa its first professional sports championship. Though the NASL ceased operations in 1984, the Rowdies continued to compete in various soccer leagues until finally folding in 1993.

====Mutiny====
The success of the Rowdies prompted [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS) to award Tampa a charter member of the new league in 1996. The [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]] were the first MLS [[Supporters' Shield]] winner and had much early success beginning in [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]. However, the club folded in [[2001 MLS season|2001]] when local ownership could not be secured mainly due to a financially poor lease agreement for [[Raymond James Stadium]]. The city has no representation in MLS, however, the Rowdies are seeking to join the league.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/09/mls-expansion-city-tampa-bay-rowdies-st-petersburg |title=MLS expansion city profile: Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg |last=Straus |first=Brian |newspaper=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110143037/http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/09/mls-expansion-city-tampa-bay-rowdies-st-petersburg |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Sun ====
[[Tampa Bay Sun FC]] were founded in 2023, becoming a founding member of the [[USL Super League]], a top-division women's soccer league. They will play at [[Riverfront Stadium (Tampa)|Riverfront Stadium]], a newly renovated stadium on the campus of [[Howard W. Blake High School|Blake High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadium |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/stadium/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Tampa Bay Sun FC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/faqs/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Tampa Bay Sun FC |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Sundomecloseup.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Yuengling Center]]]]

===Basketball===
The Tampa Bay area does not have a professional basketball team. The [[Orlando Magic]] are the closest [[NBA]] team to the area, 85 miles east.

The Tampa Bay area had several teams in minor basketball leagues. The [[Tampa Bay Titans]] played in [[The Basketball League]] (TBL) from 2019 to 2022. Their home games were played at [[Pasco–Hernando State College]]. The St. Pete Tide and the Tampa Gunners played in the [[Florida Basketball Association]] (FBA). The Tide's home games were played at [[St. Petersburg Catholic High School]], and the Gunners were a travel team.

[[Amalie Arena]] was used as the home of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA's]] [[Toronto Raptors]] for the [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–2021 season]] because of Canadian government regulations due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How the Toronto Raptors landed in Tampa |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2020/11/21/how-the-toronto-raptors-landed-in-tampa/ |access-date=November 23, 2020 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122160216/https://www.tampabay.com/sports/2020/11/21/how-the-toronto-raptors-landed-in-tampa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first time an NBA team played home games in Tampa, though some exhibition preseason games had been played in Tampa between the [[Orlando Magic]] and [[Miami Heat]] prior to this.

===College sports===

====University of South Florida====
{{See also|South Florida Bulls}}

The [[University of South Florida]] is the only [[NCAA Division I]] sports program in Tampa. USF began playing intercollegiate sports in 1965. The [[South Florida Bulls|Bulls]] established a [[South Florida Bulls men's basketball|men's basketball]] team in 1971 and a [[South Florida Bulls football|football team]] in 1997 and sponsor 17 teams in total. The Bulls joined the [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] in 2005, and the football team rose to as high as #2 in the [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] rankings in 2007. They are now part of the [[American Athletic Conference]]. USF has won six NCAA national championships: softball in 1983 and 1984, women's swimming in 1985, and sailing in 2009, 2016, and 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=(NCAA Div. II Champions) 1984–85 Swimming Team (2009) – USF Athletic Hall of Fame |url=https://gousfbulls.com/honors/usf-athletic-hall-of-fame/-ncaa-div-ii-champions-1984-85-swimming-team/5 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=USF Athletics |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117204523/https://gousfbulls.com/honors/usf-athletic-hall-of-fame/-ncaa-div-ii-champions-1984-85-swimming-team/5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====University of Tampa====
{{See also|Tampa Spartans}}

The [[University of Tampa]] [[Tampa Spartans|Spartans]] compete in 20 sports at the [[NCAA Division II]] level in the [[Sunshine State Conference]] (SSC). They have won a total of 19 Division II National Championships, including eight in baseball.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=National Championships |url=https://www.tampaspartans.com/information/traditions/National_Championships |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=University of Tampa Athletics |language=en |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227145918/https://www.tampaspartans.com/information/traditions/National_Championships |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Hillsborough Community College====
The [[Hillsborough Community College]] Hawks are an [[National Junior College Athletic Association|NJCAA]] Division I junior college team and a member of the [[Florida College System Activities Association]] they compete in the [[Suncoast Conference]] and the Southern Conference in [[NJCAA Region VIII|Region VIII]] of The [[National Junior College Athletic Association]] (NJCAA).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visittampabay.com/listings/hillsborough-community-college-athletics/3792/ |title=Hillsborough Community College Athletics |website=www.visittampabay.com |language=en-us |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616083127/https://www.visittampabay.com/listings/hillsborough-community-college-athletics/3792/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Major events hosted in the Tampa Bay Area===
{{Further|Sports in the Tampa Bay area#Major championship events hosted in Tampa Bay}}

* [[Super Bowl XVIII|Super Bowls XVIII]] and [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]] ([[Tampa Stadium]])
* [[Super Bowl XXXV|Super Bowls XXXV]], [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]], and [[Super Bowl LV|LV]] ([[Raymond James Stadium]])
* 1984 USFL Championship Game (Tampa Stadium)
* [[2008 World Series]] games 1 and 2 ([[Tropicana Field]])
* [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals]] games 1, 2, 5, and 7 ([[Amalie Arena]])
* [[2015 Stanley Cup Finals]] games 1, 2 and 5 (Amalie Arena)
* [[2021 Stanley Cup Finals]] games 1, 2, and 5 (Amalie Arena)
* [[Soccer Bowl 2012]] Leg 2 ([[Al Lang Stadium]])
* [[ArenaBowl IX]] (Tropicana Field)
* [[Arena Bowl XII|ArenaBowl XII]] and [[ArenaBowl XVII|XVII]] (Amalie Arena)
* [[2017 College Football Playoff National Championship|2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game]] (Raymond James Stadium)
* [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament#Final four|1999 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four]] (Tropicana Field)
* [[2008 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Final Four – St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida|2008]], [[2015 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Final Four|2015]], and [[2019 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Final Four|2019 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four]] (Amalie Arena)
* [[1978 NCAA Division I Soccer Tournament#Final|1978]], [[1979 NCAA Division I Soccer Tournament#Final|1979]], and [[1980 NCAA Division I Soccer Tournament#Final|1980 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game]] (Tampa Stadium)
* [[1990 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament#Final|1990]] and [[1991 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament#Final|1991 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game]] ([[USF Track and Field Stadium|USF Soccer Stadium]])
* [[2012 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament#Frozen Four – Tampa, Florida|2012]] and [[2016 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament#Frozen Four – Tampa, Florida|2016 NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Frozen Four]] (Amalie Arena)
* [[2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament#Final Four – St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida|2009 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four]] (Amalie Arena)
* [[2015 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship]] and [[2015 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship]] (The Concession Golf Club)
* [[2021 USL Championship Playoffs|2021 USL Championship Final]] (Al Lang Stadium)
* [[2023 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament#Frozen Four|2023 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four]] (Amalie Arena)
* 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Final Four (Amalie Arena)
* 2023 Tampa Bay Frog Swim (Gandy Beach)
* 2023 Swim Across America Tampa Bay (North Shore Park)

====Future events planned to be held in the Tampa Bay area====
* 2025 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four (Amalie Arena)<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Athletics to Host Three Upcoming NCAA Championship Events in Tampa |url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2020/10/15/general-athletics-to-host-three-upcoming-ncaa-championship-events-in-tampa.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201183110/https://gousfbulls.com/news/2020/10/15/general-athletics-to-host-three-upcoming-ncaa-championship-events-in-tampa.aspx |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=2021-07-09 |website=USF Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball first and second round (Amalie Arena)<ref>{{Cite web |title=March Madness Final Four: Future dates & sites |url=https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/future-info |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}</ref>