Sports teams in Florida

Although Florida is the traditional home to Major League Baseball's spring training, and nearly 2/3 of all MLB teams still have a spring training presence in the state, Florida did not have a permanent major-league-level professional sports team until the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins in 1966. The state now has three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, and two NHL teams. With two of its most historically-important teams, Florida is one of the most important markets for the Arena Football League. Golf, tennis and auto racing are also popular. Florida also hosts a variety of minor league baseball, football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, indoor football and rugby union teams.

Professional Sports

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Jacksonville Jaguars	Football	National Football League	Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Miami Dolphins	Football	National Football League	Dolphin Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Football	National Football League	Raymond James Stadium
Miami Heat	Basketball	National Basketball Association	American Airlines Arena
Orlando Magic	Basketball	National Basketball Association	Amway Arena
Florida Panthers	Ice hockey	National Hockey League	BankAtlantic Center
Tampa Bay Lightning	Ice hockey	National Hockey League	St. Pete Times Forum
Florida Marlins	Baseball	Major League Baseball	Dolphin Stadium
Tampa Bay Rays	Baseball	Major League Baseball	Tropicana Field
Orlando Predators	Arena football	Arena Football League	Amway Arena
Tallahassee Titans	Indoor football	American Indoor Football Association	Donald L. Tucker Center
Tampa Bay Storm	Arena football	Arena Football League	St. Pete Times Forum
Brevard County Manatees	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Space Coast Stadium
Clearwater Threshers	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Bright House Networks Field
Daytona Cubs	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Jackie Robinson Stadium
Dunedin Blue Jays	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Knology Park
Fort Myers Miracle	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Hammond Stadium
Jacksonville Suns	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Southern League	Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Jupiter Hammerheads	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Roger Dean Stadium
Lakeland Tigers	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Joker Marchant Stadium
Palm Beach Cardinals	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Roger Dean Stadium
Sarasota Reds	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Ed Smith Stadium
St. Lucie Mets	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Tradition Field
Tampa Yankees	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Legends Field
Vero Beach Devil Rays	Baseball	Minor League Baseball Florida State League	Holman Stadium
Miami FC	Soccer	USL First Division	Tropical Park Stadium
Ajax Orlando Prospects	Soccer	USL Premier Development League	Warden Stadium
Bradenton Academics	Soccer	USL Premier Development League	IMG Soccer Academy
Central Florida Kraze	Soccer	USL Premier Development League	Seminole Soccer Complex
Cocoa Expos	Soccer	USL Premier Development League	Cocoa Municipal Stadium
Palm Beach Pumas	Soccer	USL Premier Development League	Palm Beach International Polo Club
Bradenton Athletics	Soccer	W-League	IMG Soccer Academy
Central Florida Krush	Soccer	W-League	Seminole Soccer Complex
Central Florida Strikers	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	David Maus Stadium
Miami Surf	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	Tropical Park Stadium
Orlando Falcons	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	Austin Tindal Soccer Complex
Palm Beach United	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	N/A
South Florida Breeze	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	N/A
Tampa Bay United	Soccer	Women’s Premier Soccer League	N/A
Treasure Coast Galleons	Soccer	Florida Elite Soccer League	N/A
Deportivo Okeechobee	Soccer	Florida Elite Soccer League	N/A
Port St Lucie Hurricanes	Soccer	Florida Elite Soccer League	N/A
SouthEnd Utd	Soccer	Florida Elite Soccer League	N/A
Sunrise City SC	Soccer	Florida Elite Soccer League	N/A
Tampa Bay Krewe	Rugby	Florida Rugby Union	N/A
Florida Everblades	Ice hockey	East Coast Hockey League	Germain Arena
Florida Seals	Ice hockey	Southern Professional Hockey League	N/A
Jacksonville Barracudas	Ice hockey	Southern Professional Hockey League	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Pensacola Ice Pilots	Ice hockey	East Coast Hockey League	N/A
Orlando Aces	Basketball	American Basketball Association	N/A
Palm Beach Imperials	Basketball	American Basketball Association	N/A
Pensacola Aviators	Basketball	American Basketball Association	N/A
Jacksonville Jam	Basketball	American Basketball Association	N/A
Tampa Bay Strong Dogs	Basketball	American Basketball Association	N/A

Spring training

Florida is the traditional home for Major League Baseball spring training, with teams informally organized into the "Grapefruit League." As of 2004, Florida hosts the following major league teams for spring training:

Club	Location
Atlanta Braves	Walt Disney World
Baltimore Orioles	Fort Lauderdale
Boston Red Sox	Fort Myers
Cincinnati Reds	Sarasota
Cleveland Indians	Winter Haven
Detroit Tigers	Lakeland
Florida Marlins	Jupiter
Houston Astros	Kissimmee
Los Angeles Dodgers	Vero Beach
Minnesota Twins	Fort Myers
New York Mets	Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees	Tampa
Philadelphia Phillies	Clearwater
Pittsburgh Pirates	Bradenton
Saint Louis Cardinals	Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays	St. Petersburg
Toronto Blue Jays	Dunedin
Washington Nationals	Viera

College sports

NCAA

School	Nickname	Division	Conference
University of Florida	Gators	I	Southeastern Conference
Florida State University	Seminoles	I	Atlantic Coast Conference
University of Miami	Hurricanes	I	Atlantic Coast Conference
Florida International University	Golden Panthers	I	Sun Belt Conference
University of South Florida	Bulls	I	Big East Conference
Florida Atlantic University	Owls	I	Sun Belt Conference
University of Central Florida	Knights	I	Conference USA
Bethune-Cookman University	Wildcats	I	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Florida A&M University	Rattlers	I	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Florida Gulf Coast University	Eagles	I	Atlantic Sun Conference
Jacksonville University	Dolphins	I	Atlantic Sun Conference/Pioneer Football League
University of North Florida	Ospreys/Lady Ospreys	I	Atlantic Sun Conference
Stetson University	Hatters	I	Atlantic Sun Conference
Barry University	Buccaneers	II	Sunshine State Conference
Eckerd College	Tritons	II	Sunshine State Conference
Flagler College	Saints	II	N/A
Florida Southern College	Moccasins	II	Sunshine State Conference
Florida Institute of Technology	Panthers	II	Sunshine State Conference
Lynn University	Fighting Knights	II	Sunshine State Conference
Nova Southeastern University	Sharks	II	Sunshine State Conference
Palm Beach Atlantic University	Sailfish	II	N/A
Rollins College	Tars	II	Sunshine State Conference
Saint Leo University	Lions	II	Sunshine State Conference
University of Tampa	Spartans	II	Sunshine State Conference
University of West Florida	Argos	II	Gulf South Conference

NAIA

School	Nickname	Conference
Edward Waters College	Tigers	Florida Sun Conference
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Eagles	Florida Sun Conference
Florida Memorial University	Fighting Lions	Florida Sun Conference
Johnson & Wales University	Wildcats	N/A
Northwood University	Seahawks	Florida Sun Conference
St. Thomas University (Florida)	Bobcats	Florida Sun Conference
Warner Southern College	Royals	Florida Sun Conference
Webber International University	Warriors	Florida Sun Conference

NJCAA

School	Nickname	Conference
Okaloosa-Walton College	Raiders	Panhandle Conference

Auto-racing tracks

File:DaytonaSpeedway1.jpg

Daytona International Speedway