Tampa Bay Sports Scene: Getting in on the Action
Tampa Bay? More like Champa Bay!
We’ve hosted championships and won our share.
Our region is home to a huge range of teams across sports and levels of competition. Thanks to professional teams with storied histories and a university athletics department making waves, there’s never been a better time to be a Tampa Bay sports fan.
Professional Sports Teams in Tampa Bay
Turn on ESPN’s Sportscenter on any given night and you won’t have to wait long before “Tampa Bay” gets brought up. Organizations from three of the major professional sports associations are based in our region, including the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB), all have notable, recent achievements.
Other professional sports organizations have also staked their claim on our subtropical paradise, giving fans across Tampa Bay a huge variety of experiences to choose from.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gridiron Swashbucklers and Scalawags
Sunday after Sunday between September and January, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thrill fans at the 75,000-seat Raymond James Stadium in West Tampa, a 30-minute drive from both USF’s Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses. The stadium features a prominent pirate ship above the endzone, complete with cannons that sound off each point the Bucs score for the whole city to hear. This tradition sparked the iconic fan catchphrase, “Fire the cannons!”
The Bucs have won two Super Bowls, the first in 2002 and the second in 2021, right here in Tampa. That second championship made the Bucs the first NFL team ever to play — not to mention win — a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Since 1976, 11 Bucs have been inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including the late Lee Roy Selmon, who served as Athletic Director at USF from 2001-04 and helped found our college football program.
The Tampa Bay Lightning: Ruling the Ice in the Sunshine State
In concept, a professional hockey team in sun-drenched Tampa seems out-of-place, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the most consistently great teams in the NHL. Commentators have labeled them a modern-day hockey dynasty.
The Lightning hit the ice in 1992 and won their first Stanley Cup in 2004. That was just the beginning. After ending the 2010s with consistently great seasons, the Lightning dominated the NHL Playoffs in the new decade. They won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021, then lost in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, narrowly missing a historic three-peat.
From October to April, the Lightning play at Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa (if you want to sound like a real, old-school Tampa resident, call it “the Ice Palace”), a 25-minute drive from both USF Tampa and USF St. Petersburg. The energy inside is electric! The team encourages fans to “Be the Thunder” that matches the lightning on the ice.
Students can purchase discounted Student Rush tickets. If you can’t score one, look out for watch parties at the Thunder Alley pavilion in front of the arena or at nearby Sparkman Wharf.
The Tampa Bay Rays: Making a Splash in Pro Baseball
For years, rumors have swirled that the Tampa Bay Rays will be leaving the region, but they’re still here, delivering consistent MLB action and dynamic playoff runs. The team was created in 1998 as the Devil Rays and had a miserable first ten years, consistently finishing last in the highly competitive American League East division, the hardest division in baseball.
Suddenly, though, everything changed. The rebranded Rays had an incredible playoff run in 2008, surging all the way to the World Series, where their Cinderella season ended in a loss. This run attracted more fan attention than ever before and cemented the Rays as a Tampa Bay team worth watching. Since then, the Rays have been to — and unfortunately lost — another World Series in 2020. That’s enough for plenty of Rays fans across Tampa Bay to “Rays Up,” though!
The MLB season runs from March/April to September/October. Normally, the Rays play at Tropicana Field in Downtown St. Petersburg, which is less than a mile from the USF St. Petersburg campus, but ummm…Hurricane Milton dramatically ripped the roof off a few months ago, so they had to pivot. Instead, the Rays will be playing at Steinbrenner Field in West Tampa, across the street from Raymond James Stadium, until at least the opening day of the 2026 season, when they plan to return to St. Pete. I hope they’re on schedule because I’m craving one of those little, plastic baseball helmet bowls full of Dippin’ Dots!
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Year-round sun makes Tampa Bay a baseball hotspot. Not only do seven fan-favorite major league teams conduct Spring Training in the area, but we also have five minor league teams competing in the Florida State League (FSL), so locals can catch ballgames year-round. If you love America’s pastime, Tampa is the place to be!
The Tampa Bay Rowdies: Tearing Up the Turf
In America, soccer has had an unprecedented growth in popularity over the last five years, and Tampa is no exception. Between October and February, the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League (USL) play “the beautiful game” in Downtown St. Petersburg’s Al Lang Stadium, an easy five-minute walk from the USF campus there.
The Rowdies have played in the USL Championship game twice recently, in 2020 and 2021. They also have a North American Soccer League (NASL) championship from 2012.
The Rowdies are a “phoenix club,” a sports franchise that resurrects the brand of an older team. In 1975, the original Rowdies were Tampa Bay’s first pro sports franchise, playing until 1993. The current team was founded in 2008. That long history has allowed the Rowdies spirit to shape soccer in the area. One example is the annual Rowdies Cup, a showdown between the USF men’s soccer team and the University of Tampa Spartans that dates back to 1972 (USF leads 26-11-3). The Rowdies also have a decades-old rivalry with similar teams from Ft. Lauderdale, playing in over 100 Florida Derby matches (Tampa Bay leads 64-45-6).
The Tampa Bay Sun: Kicking off a New Era
In 2024, a new women’s professional soccer club, the Tampa Bay Sun of the USL Super League, began playing in Downtown Tampa’s newly revamped Riverfront Stadium. Although they’ve only played a few games so far, we know the Sun will shine in competition. After all, their head coach is Denise Schilte-Brown, the former USF women’s soccer head coach who led the Bulls to great success for more than a decade.
You can catch Sun games between August and May.
IndyCar Racing: Too Fast, Too Furious
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a pulse-pounding race right here in Tampa Bay that kicks off the IndyCar series each season. The 100-lap, 180-mile race takes place on a temporary course through Downtown St. Pete, zipping right past the USF St. Petersburg campus. Since 1985, the race has been held annually in the spring.
College Sports are on the Rise in Tampa Bay
Pro sports are huge in Tampa, but we have plenty of opportunities to cheer on college athletes, too!
The University of South Florida Bulls are Tampa’s Team
NCAA Division I competition has become a major component of Tampa Bay sports culture, and the USF Bulls are its heart. Over the years, our teams have won a combined 16 NCAA national championships.
“Whether you're a Bull or not, people in the Tampa Bay region should be proud of the university,” Michael Kelly, Vice President for Athletics at USF, contended. “We’re your Division I team! Even if you were a transplant from the Midwest, a Gator, or a ‘Nole, it doesn't really matter. You can still support these athletes because they're representing Tampa Bay.”
Over 500 student athletes represent USF across 21 sports. Besides popular favorites like football and basketball, fans can also root for other USF teams who bring their A-game to every competition, including:
- The women’s volleyball team, which won a regular season conference championship this season.
- The men’s and women’s soccer teams, which consistently make the postseason.
- The women’s golf team, which just posted a record-breaking season.
- The men’s indoor and outdoor track teams, which won national titles last year (the women’s team finished third).
“We’re seeking comprehensive excellence in everything that we do,” Kelly replied, when asked about the root of USF’s success across sports. “We’ve been able to assess all our programs and try to give them the resources they need to be successful. We're working hard to build a model athletic department for modern times.”
Founded in 1956, USF is a relatively young university, and many of our sports programs are just getting started. In fall 2021, we announced plans for a women’s lacrosse team which will play its inaugural season in 2025 and 2026 will bring a new women’s beach volleyball team. Both programs have attracted top prospects who are eager to build the school’s reputation from the ground up.
“We get a chance to create history here right now, and that takes fans, too,” Kelly said. “We need the fan support.”
Bulls Football: Building on Success
The Bulls have been playing at Raymond James Stadium — where the Bucs play — for nearly 30 years, but starting in fall 2027, they will play in an all-new stadium on campus.
Our football program began in 1997 and achieved national prominence after a historic upset of the #17 Auburn Tigers 10 seasons later, which catapulted the Bulls to their first Top 25 rank in team history. Thanks to a hot streak that also featured an upset of #5 West Virginia, USF rose to #2 in the nation, its highest ranking in program history (the hype was incredible).
Lately, the Bulls have once again been attracting national coverage. USF faced San Jose State in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl, but no one expected the barn burner that ensued. After five overtimes, the Bulls won 41-39 in the longest bowl game in USF's history. One thing is for sure: The Bulls have momentum, and fans are excited!
Bulls Basketball: Our Heroes on the Hardwood
With no professional basketball franchise in the area, the Yuengling Center on campus is Tampa Bay’s home for hoops. And there’s never been a better time to watch the Bulls in action!
The men’s basketball team had a record-breaking season in 2024. After a historic 15-game win streak, the Bulls posted the best record in their conference, earned a Top 25 rank for the first time in school history, and got an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team has demonstrated remarkable consistency, making the NCAA tournament eight times since 2013 and securing a conference championship in 2021 and 2023. The women's basketball team also won the ACC tournament crown in 2021.
All this winning, plus a newly renovated arena, has raised fan excitement around USF basketball to an all-time high.
The Fan Experience: Building a Strong Culture on Campus
USF students have created a vibrant fan culture that drives the exhilarating atmosphere Bulls athletic events are known for. The student organization the Beef Studs sticks out in the front row of football and basketball games — it’s hard to miss dozens of students painted green! The club also plans well-attended tailgating events for football games. Kelly has observed a lot of students tailgating before baseball and softball games in the spring, too. “It seems like a great hangout place,” he said.
Meanwhile, the SoFlo Rodeo movement has filled the stands at USF basketball games and turned our student section into a nationally recognized hype machine. The group wears a shade of electric green that really pops — and throws visiting teams off their game.
USF enrolled students get one complimentary ticket to all home athletics events. Attending is one of the best ways to get involved on campus, and the vibes have never been better.
Creating a Tradition of Well-Rounded Achievement
Including the yet-to-play beach volleyball squad, twelve of USF’s sports feature female athletes. Our school has taken great strides to promote athletics for women, including a philanthropic initiative called Stampede for Women, which not only fundraises to give the women’s teams more resources, but also “enhances the female student-athlete experience through mentorship, professional development, and community through female empowerment and networking opportunities and events.”
Another initiative has emphasized the importance of academic achievement in addition to athletic performance. The result? “For 20 straight semesters now, the cumulative GPA of our student athletes has been over 3.0,” Kelly said proudly. He also reported that USF’s historic admission to the American Association of Universities (AAU) has given our teams a big recruiting boost. According to Kelly, athletes love that they “can earn a degree from a school that is very active, very bold, and very progressive.”
With so much going right, the future of USF athletics appears even brighter. “All in all, Bulls fans should be excited about our progress,” Kelly said. “No one else is really adding sports or building a stadium right now. Other schools are cutting back sports, but we’re doing bold things.”
Get in the Game Yourself
If you are eager to participate in sports, USF offers plenty of informal opportunities to get involved. USF students can take advantage of opportunities like:
- Intramural teams across six sports, including single-gender and co-rec teams.
- Over 40 competitive and recreational club teams.
- Pickup games at the Campus Recreation Center, including racquetball, handball, and indoor and outdoor basketball. We also have a heated pool for lapping and a fourteen-foot bouldering wall. Pickleball has been gaining popularity among USF students at the Tampa and St. Pete campuses, too.
- At USF St. Petersburg, the on-campus boathouse rents out kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to explore the bay. This equipment is free for USF students.
Love Sports? Come to Tampa Bay!
If you think Tampa Bay sounds like a sports paradise, you’d be right.
“The grass really is greener here,” Kelly concluded. “We have great weather, great academics and USF has a great athletic department that is consistently winning — and great personalities among both the students and the coaches.”
Whether you’re into pro sports, college sports, or both, every sports fan can find their place at USF. Sports are a huge part of the culture in Tampa Bay, and just one of the factors attracting students to our university. Kelly said it best: “It’s a great time to run with the Bulls!”
If you’d like to become a part of USF, apply now! Our friendly Office Admissions staff is here to help you with any questions you have about the application process. You can contact them by email at admissions@usf.edu or by calling 813-974-3350.
