Florida = Sporting Venue Hub?

When thinking about vacation spots in the United States, Florida is always near the top for travelers.

The same could be said as they host Super Bowl LV in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium where the Buccaneers will become the first team to host the big game in their stadium.

There has been 11 Super Bowls in the past in Miami with the most recent one being in LIV where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium.

Even NFL’s Pro Bowl has been moved from Hawaii to Orlando, being played at Camping World Stadium since 2017.

In the 2020-21 NCAA football season, the Cheez It Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Outback Bowl were played in Florida.

When Alabama claimed another national championship in 2021, beating Ohio State, they won it in Miami Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium.

When COVID-19 hit the fan and suspended the NBA, the league returned over the summer in a bubble. Guess where it was located?

Disney World’s campus in Orlando.

The 2020 WNBA season was also played in a bubble format in Bradenton where players were housed at IMG Academy.

It’s simple.

Florida is one of the ideal vacation spots that will attract tourists due to the scenery along with the consistency of good and meaningful ball games being played there.

There will never be a year where the state won’t host a big sporting event as long they keep stadiums.

To me, it’s the perfect divide.

Good nightlife, beaches, and stadiums.

Florida has become a powerhouse when it comes to hosting and that will not go away for the foreseeable future.

It won’t be long before Florida get yet another Super Bowl and a NCAA National Championship Game.

Can you really blame these leagues for going to Florida for big game needs?

I wouldn’t blame them one bit.

Written by: Gerald Thomas, III