Page 35 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

includes the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets SOCCER SUPERSTARS OWN THE ICE
and Washington Wizards. Check schedules Florida has quietly become a haven for great With two NHL teams in the state, Florida
because it’s a great chance to see the NBA’s professional soccer. Orlando City SC of the offers fans superb opportunities to see top-
brightest stars like LeBron James, Stephen MLS, founded in 2010, plays to record-breaking notch hockey on their visit. Playing their
Curry and Kevin Durant play against the crowds at Exploria Stadium in downtown games at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa,
Florida teams. The Magic play their games at Orlando. The team has a loyal fan base as well the Tampa Bay Lightning had top standing in
the Amway Center in downtown Orlando and as fun tailgating parties before the games. the league during regular play in the
the Heat play at the AmericanAirlines Arena. There are plans for the Inter Miami CF, a 2018/2019 season. They have qualified for
For major college basketball, the impres- newly-established MLS team co-owned by the Stanley Cup playoffs 11 times in 27
sive menu is led by the Florida Gators, from David Beckham, to compete in the upcoming seasons and won the cherished trophy
Gainesville’s University of Florida. The season beginning in March. They will play at once—in 2004. Farther south, in the Miami
University of Miami and Tallahassee’s Florida Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale until metropolitan area, the Florida Panthers
State University annually field strong teams. their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, is skate at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. The
completed. Panthers are the southernmost team in the
FOOTBALL FRENZY Fortunately, there are plenty of opportu- NHL and have qualified for post-season
Gridiron icons like Don Shula, Dan Marino nities to see the sport in Florida. The Orlando action four times since their debut in 1993.
and Tim Tebow are synonymous with Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League
football in the Sunshine State. Pro and is led by superstar Alex Morgan. And, the TERRIFIC TENNIS
college football dominate the sports scene in Boca Raton FC is a National Premier Soccer The fuzzy ball set loves to play and watch
Florida in fall and early winter. League team founded in 2015. tennis in Florida. Resorts like Boca Raton
Home to the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida
gives fans the chance to watch NFL football PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA, PALM BEACH GARDENS • DISCOVER THE PALM BEACHES
games in warm, sunny weather even in
October and November.
College football passions run deep in
Florida with highly successful programs like
Gainesville’s University of Florida Gators,
Tallahassee’s Florida State Seminoles and
Miami University's Hurricanes. The Gators
have won three national championships, the
Seminoles have won three and the
Hurricanes have captured five. Other colleges
with top-flight Division 1 programs where
you can experience the game with all of the
colorful pageantry are the University of
Central Florida in Orlando, University of
South Florida in Tampa and Florida Atlantic
University in Boca Raton.
At the end of each season in December
and early January, Florida hosts several major
college football bowl games, including the
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl and
Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in
Tampa; Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton
Bowl at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton; Capital
One Orange Bowl at the Hard Rock Stadium
in Miami Gardens; NFL Pro Bowl, Citrus
Bowl, Cure Bowl and Camping World Bowl
are all played at Camping World Stadium in
Orlando; TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank
Field in Jacksonville; and Outback Bowl at
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA 33