Florida has many professional, semi-professional, amateur and college teams. At the professional level, 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, three Women's Soccer teams 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.
In college sports, thirteen Florida schools compete in NCAA Division I.College Sports Scholarships. Accessed November 30, 2015. Various others compete in other organizations including NCAA Division II, the NAIA, the NJCAA, the USCAA, and the NCCAA.
Professional major league teams
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."Major League Soccer names Orlando City SC as 21st franchise, set for 2015 debut", MLSsoccer.com, November 19, 2013. Florida has a team in one of the two most prominent women's leagues, and formerly had two teams in the other.
ClubSportLeagueVenueChampionships (Years)FoundedMiami MarlinsBaseballMLBloanDepot Park2 (1997, 2003) 1993Tampa Bay RaysBaseballMLBTropicana Field0 1998Miami HeatBasketballNBAKaseya Center3 (2006, 2012, 2013) 1988Orlando MagicBasketballNBAKia Center0 1989Jacksonville JaguarsFootballNFLEverBank Stadium0 1993Miami DolphinsFootballNFLHard Rock Stadium2 (1972, 1973) 1965Tampa Bay BuccaneersFootballNFLRaymond James Stadium2 (2002, 2020) 1976Florida PanthersIce hockeyNHLAmerant Bank Arena2 (2024, 2025) 1993Tampa Bay LightningIce hockeyNHLBenchmark International Arena3 (2004, 2020, 2021) 1992 Inter Miami CF Soccer MLS Nu Stadium 1 (2025) 2018 Orlando City SC Soccer MLS Inter.co Stadium 2013Fort Lauderdale United FCSoccerUSLSBeyondBancard Field2024 Orlando Pride Soccer NWSL Inter.co Stadium1 (2024) 2016Tampa Bay RowdiesSoccerUSLAl Lang Stadium2 (1975, 2012)1975-1993 and 2010Sporting Club JacksonvilleSoccerUSLHodges Stadium2025Tampa Bay Sun FCSoccerUSLSRiverfront Stadium1 (2025)2024Tampa Bay Storm*FootballAFLAmalie Arena5 (1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003) 1991-2017 Miami Fusion* Soccer MLS Lockhart Stadium 1997 Tampa Bay Mutiny* Soccer MLS Raymond James Stadium 1996 Orlando Miracle* Basketball WNBA TD Waterhouse Centre 1999 Miami Sol* Basketball WNBA American Airlines Arena 2000 *Team has folded or relocated
Spring training Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit League." , Florida hosts the following major league teams for spring training:
ClubLocationAtlanta BravesNorth PortBaltimore OriolesSarasotaBoston Red SoxFort MyersDetroit TigersLakelandHouston AstrosWest Palm BeachMiami MarlinsJupiterMinnesota TwinsFort MyersNew York MetsPort St. LucieNew York YankeesTampaPhiladelphia PhilliesClearwaterPittsburgh PiratesBradentonSt. Louis CardinalsJupiterTampa Bay RaysPort CharlotteToronto Blue JaysDunedinWashington NationalsWest Palm Beach
Individual sports
Golf, tennis and auto racing are popular in Florida.
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, was long based in Palm Beach Gardens before moving its headquarters to Frisco, Texas in 2022. 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.
Auto racing tracks Daytona International Speedway Homestead-Miami Speedway Citrus County Speedway Volusia Speedway Park East Bay Raceway Park Showtime Speedway Bubba Raceway Park North Florida Speedway Lake City Speedway Freedom Factory Hendy County Motorsports Park Southern Raceway Sebring Raceway Florida International Rally and Motorsports Park Palm Beach International Raceway Streets of St. Petersburg Walt Disney World Speedway (demolished) New Smyrna Speedway Five Flags Speedway Gainesville Raceway
Minor league, semi-pro and other pro teams
ClubSportLeagueVenueChampionships (Years)Orlando Guardians (folded with league joint)American footballXFLCamping World Stadium0Orlando StormAmerican footballUFLInter&Co Stadium0Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpBaseballMiLB, International League121 Financial Ballpark 7 (1968, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2025)Pensacola Blue WahoosBaseballMiLB, Southern LeaguePensacola Bayfront Stadium0Bradenton MaraudersBaseball MiLB, Florida State LeagueMcKechnie Field1 (2016)Clearwater ThreshersBaseballSpectrum Field1 (2007)Daytona TortugasBaseballJackie Robinson Ballpark3 (1995, 2004, 2008)Dunedin Blue JaysBaseballKnology Park0Fort Myers Mighty MusselsBaseballHammond Stadium7 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1978, 2018, 2018)Jupiter HammerheadsBaseballRoger Dean Stadium0Lakeland Flying TigersBaseballJoker Marchant Stadium3 (1976, 1977, 1992)Palm Beach CardinalsBaseballRoger Dean Stadium1 (2005)St. Lucie MetsBaseballClover Park5 (1988, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2006)Tampa TarponsBaseballGeorge M. Steinbrenner Field 5 (1994, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010) Osceola Magic Basketball NBA G League Silver Spurs Arena1 (2021 as Lakeland Magic)Florida FlightBasketballFlorida Basketball AssociationRDV Sportsplex1 (2019)Clermont CrocsBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationFlorida Basketball AssociationRDV Sportsplex1 (2021)Jacksonville GiantsBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena3 (2012, 2013, 2016)Miami MidnitesBasketballAmerican Basketball AssociationFlorida Basketball AssociationDavid Posnack Jewish Community Center3 (2014, 2015, 2016 in the FBA)Florida EverbladesIce hockeyECHLHertz Arena2 (2012, 2022)Jacksonville IcemenIce hockeyVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena0Orlando Solar BearsIce hockeyAmway Center0Pensacola Ice FlyersIce hockeySPHLPensacola Civic Center3 (2013, 2014, 2016)Jacksonville SharksIndoor footballIndoor Football LeagueVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena3 (2011, 2017, 2019, )Orlando PredatorsIndoor footballNational Arena LeagueAmway Center0Florida Tropics SCIndoor soccerMajor Arena Soccer LeagueRP Funding Center0Jacksonville AxemenRugby LeagueUSA Rugby LeagueHodges Stadium2 (2010, 2012)Lakeland RenegadesRugby leagueUSA Rugby LeagueAll Saints Academy0Southwest Florida CopperheadsRugby leagueUSA Rugby LeagueLehigh Senior High School0Tampa MayhemRugby leagueUSA Rugby LeagueTampa Catholic High School0Miami FCSoccerUSL ChampionshipPitbull Stadium3 (2018 & 2019 in NPSL), (2019 in NISA)Tampa Bay RowdiesSoccerAl Lang Stadium2 (1975 and 2012 in NASL)FC NaplesSoccerUSL League OneParadise Coast Sports Complex0Inter Miami CF IISoccerMLS Next ProChase Stadium0Club de LyonSoccerNational Independent Soccer AssociationDaytona Stadium0Beaches FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer League0Central Florida Panthers SCSoccerNational Premier Soccer LeagueShowalter Field0Jacksonville Armada FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer LeagueHodges Stadium0Miami United FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer League0Naples United FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer League0Storm FCSoccerNational Premier Soccer League0IMG Academy BradentonSoccerUSL League Two0Lakeland TropicsSoccerUSL League TwoBryant Stadium0FC Miami CitySoccerUSL League Two0North County UnitedSoccerUSL League Two0Next Academy Palm BeachSoccerUSL League Two0SIMA ÁguilasSoccerUSL League Two0The Villages SCSoccerUSL League Two0Weston FCSoccerUSL League Two0Boca Raton FCSoccerUnited Premier Soccer LeagueLynn University1 (2015 in APSL)Fort Lauderdale Herd BCBasketballNational Basketball League - USJoseph C. Carter Center0
College sports