Tampa has become one of Florida's prime locations for sports. Tampa already hosts professional sports teams such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Living in apartments near Tampa allows for any sports fan to find their haven. Each of their professional teams has seen great success in the NFL, MLB, and NHL respectively. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII after the completion of the 2002 season. This marked the first Super Bowl Championship won by a Floridian NFL team since 1973. The Tampa Bay Rays achieved great success in recent years under general manager Joe Maddon. In 2008, they won the AL pennant and earned their first ever appearance in the World Series. Since then they have grown to be an admirable foe for any MLB team winning two AL East titles and making 4 more playoff appearances. The Tampa Bay Lightning, known as the “Bolts,” have achieved great success in the NHL. They won their first Stanley Cup after the 2003-2004 season. In 2011, the “Bolts” returned to the Eastern Conference Finals and have made multiple playoff appearances since then. Living in Tampa apartments will give you ample opportunity to enjoy the sporting environment Tampa Bay offers.
Sporting Venues
Tampa's top-of-the-line sporting venues match some of the premier sports towns in the United States.
Raymond James Stadium hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is one of Tampa's premier venues. “Ray Jay,” as the locals call it, has expansionary seating to host up to 75,000 fans. Ray Jay, beyond hosting NFL games, also features the Outback Bowl for college football, and Monster Jam for all you monster truck fans out there. Raymond James Stadium has also, already, hosted two Super Bowls. In 2001 between the Ravens and Giants, and in 2009 between the Steelers and Cardinals, in which Santonio Holmes made his iconic, corner-of-the-end zone catch to lift the Steelers to victory in the final seconds.
Tropicana field has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays since 1998, when they were formally called the Devil Rays. Nicknamed “The Trop” by local fans, Tropicana field can seat up to 42,000 fans, and is located in St. Petersburg Florida, which is only a short drive from Tampa apartments. It has also hosted the Beef ‘O' Brady's Bowl for college football. The Trop is a domed field, so outside weather will never affect your entertainment. For all you MLB fans out there, the Trop is the only domed stadium in the MLB without a retractable roof.
The Tampa Bay Times Forum, or Amalie Arena, plays host to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. The Amalie Arena also hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies, which is the local arena football team, as well as local concerts, and other events. Amalie Arena can seat up to 21,500 occupants, and was the site of the Republican National Convention in 2012, for all you politicians out there. Located in the heart of Tampa, Amelia Arena is right around the corner from all Tampa apartments.
Let's Play Ball
Living in Tampa apartments has all the local amenities to be your next sports haven. You'll find yourself owning multiple jerseys, and get front row seats at some of sports greatest moments. Apartments near Tampa also have a short commute to any stadiums; so living in the suburbs won't be an inconvenience. Enjoy Tampa apartments, and learn to love all the sports that surround them.