It is not a coincidence that Tampa was named the Best Sports City of 2021 following a superlative-filled year of titles and accomplishments in Champa Bay, with several best au online casino sites running the odds for all of them.
The annual award from the Sports Business Journal recognized the string of successes in Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay area while also pointing out the support the cities gave to teams and leagues across the country (and even two outside of it).
Certainly, the highlights came in the two major championships won in 2021, starting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl back in February and followed up by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s second-straight NHL title. SBJ also gave credit to the Tampa Bay Rays for winning the AL East, and all of that goes without even diving into the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ absolutely dominant run to their first-ever USL Championship this fall.
The Tampa Bay area is home to many sports teams and has a substantial history of sporting activity. Most of the region’s professional sports franchises use the name “Tampa Bay”, which is the name of a body of water, not of any city. This is to emphasize that they represent the wider metropolitan area and not a particular municipality and was a tradition started by Tampa’s first major sports team, the original Tampa Bay Rowdies, when they were founded in 1975.
Here are the top three sports teams to follow in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Give a team Tom Brady and they win the Super Bowl. Such was the case for the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The guy leaves Boston and takes winning with him to the Sunshine State.
Prior to that, Tampa Bay had seen success at the highest level of the NFL only once prior, winning the Super Bowl under Coach John Gruden during the 2002 season.
The Bucs Creamsicle jerseys were among the best pro sports jerseys of all-time. For 20 years they rocked a visage most majestic. Word at Raymond James Stadium is that the NFL has lifted its one helmet policy, paving the way for the return of the creamsicle. We’d like to imagine that Gronk had a hand in this.
Play “Tom Brady Mode” during the SBLVI Super Bowl drinking game to unlock the secrets of Earth. Ok, don’t, it might kill you. No joke. Drink responsibly.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning are known for players like Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier. They are also known currently for winning back-to-back championships. Unlike the Rays who play their games in St. Petersburg, the Lightning play their games in the Ice Palace (Amalie Arena). The arena can found be in the Channelside neighborhood of Tampa, a place that goes 0 to 60 during any major sporting event, which is always being backed by best casino online sites.
We’ve always been astonished by how many hockey teams exist below the Mason-Dixon line. You’d think that Canada’s National Sport wouldn’t be given the time of day in the Sunshine State (Not Denver, Old School), but it is. What’s more, the Lightning has been quite successful of late.
Tampa Bay Rays
Formerly the Devil Rays, the Rays came into existence in the mid 90s, playing their first season in Major League Baseball in 1998 under Manager Larry Rothschild. They were known for sitting at the bottom of the AL East for years until Coach Joe Maddon took them to the World Series in 2008, before eventually losing to the Philadelphia Phillies. They have yet to win the championship.
The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field … for now. There is discussion about the Rays splitting time in Montreal moving forward (2022 and beyond). The Rays have only had one former player make it to the Hall of Fame, the legendary and incomparable, Wade Boggs. Ol’ Wade is known for three things: hitting, eating chicken, and drinking beer. Guy was all-pro at all three.