Tampa Bay Sports

Feel free to provide feedback to the topics covered in this blog so that we can continue to make Tampa Bay the premier sports destination in the country!  Also check out our website www.TampaBaySports.org!

Until next time, have a great day and check back for more updates!

Hello there Sports Fans! The Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) is seeking volunteers for the annual Game Day of Champions Soccer event.  Game Day of Champions is an annual soccer event that is organized by the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and provides Hillsborough County youth soccer teams with a special opportunity to play on the same field as the hometown USF Bulls.

The event will feature 14 teams from local youth soccer leagues, all of whom won their respective league championship. Volunteers would be asked to complete a variety of tasks including, but not limited to, team/participant registration, team escorts to designated locations, and event operations and production, among others.  

Game Day of Champions takes place this Saturday, April 28 at the University of South Florida Corbett Soccer Stadium, 4202 East Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620.  

To register as a volunteer, please contact Tony Diaz at TDiaz@VisitTampaBay.com. That's all for now, but stay tuned in for more things to do in Tampa Bay related updates!

 

Hey Tampa! In case you didn’t know, the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship is coming to Tampa. Oh, and it’s the Frozen Four which means the final victor will be announced right here. The format of this tournament is slightly different than the March Madness we all know and love.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee has selected 16 teams to enter the tournament. The four regional winners advance to the Men’s Frozen Four, and the entire championship uses a single elimination format. The five conference champions are automatically qualified and the remainder of the field is selected at large.

The 16 teams that qualified (in random order) are as follows;

Union (New York), Michigan State, Miami (Ohio), Massachusetts – Lowell, Ferris State, Denver, Michigan, Cornell, North Dakota, Western Michigan, Minnesota, Boston University, Boston College, Air Force, Minnesota Duluth, and Maine. After the regional finals are played the finals (Frozen Four) will be in Tampa on April 5 and 7th at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.  

What a unique and exciting event coming up in Tampa! That’s all for now but check in later for more things to do in Tampa Bay!

Hey there sports fans! Tony back again to give you an update on some of the exciting renovations taking place at the USF Sun Dome. After $35.6 million in renovations, the building is set to reopen next month and host it's first event in May with the university's commencement ceremonies.

The overhaul features the entire inside of the building rebuilt from scratch! These upgrades include a concourse that did not exist in the old Sun Dome, permanent bleachers in the second level, concession stands, bathrooms, dress rooms, green rooms, a new LED scoreboard, and much more!

The Arena will serve as a strategic asset and iconic focal point of the University in engaging the Tampa Bay community to the Tampa campus through a mix of hosting internal and external events. The USF men's and women's basketball home-game schedules, typically 16 home games per each program for a total of 32 games per year, will have priority in scheduling over other events.

 To view a photo gallery of the renovations, click here! Stay tuned in for more Tampa Bay Sports Updates!

Greetings Tampa sports fans! Looking for something to do during your extended President’s Day weekend? Look no further than the multitude of sporting events coming to Tampa; perfect outdoor entertainment options to enjoy with our wonderfully warm weather!

There’s an event for every sporting enthusiast. If you’re nuts for nets, USSSA is hosting their Elite Open basketball tournament. If you’re fanatical about futbol, the University of South Florida is hosting the FHSAA Boys High School Soccer Championship. Or, if you’re a hockey hound, Shootout Hockey drops the puck for its Palms youth tournament at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum.  

For devotees of the diamond, Florida Suncoast Sports, Suncoast Softball, National Adult Baseball Association and the Amateur Softball Association will all host tournaments throughout Hillsborough County.

And if you’re crazy about canoeing, Tampa will welcome its friends from the Ontario Canoe Winter Training starting Monday.

Finally, if you’re headed to the State Fair for some family fun before it breaks for another year, or you’re looking for some quirkier entertainment, be sure to check out the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association’s STA-BIL Sunshine State Winter Nationals Saturday and Sunday at the Florida State Fair!

For further information on these events and more, please visit www.TampaBaySports.org.

Be sure to check back soon for more Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports. Hope everyone has a great President's Day weekend!

Hey Sports Fans, Tony here to share some exciting news from the Equestrian world! For two weeks, the world’s top equestrian will gather in Tampa for Stadium Jumping, Inc.’s 2012 Tampa Equestrian Series, set to run from March 28-April 7, 2012.

The series will begin with the Tampa Bay Classic CSI, to be held March 28-April 1 at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The Tournament of Champions CSI will follow, April 3-7, also at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. In addition to these events, the FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI 2*-W Grand Prix of Tampa will take place on Sunday, April 1. This will be the final qualifying event for the 2012 World Cup Finals in Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.

The 2012 Equestrian Series will culminate at Raymond James Stadium with the 40^th Annual $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farm. The event, one of the premier show jumping events in the U.S., is set for April 7.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more news on what's coming up in Tampa Bay Sports!

Sports Fans, just a reminder that the 5th Annual Suncoast Sports Festival (SSF) will be held January 28-29 at the Florida State Fairgrounds and surrounding venues. The SSF is a sports invitational comprised of Boys Gymnastics, Girls Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Dance, Karate, Trampoline & Tumbling, Baseball and Basketball. Each of these events will be held at the Florida State Fairgrounds over the two days, with the exception of basketball—to be held at the University of South Florida Recreational Center—and baseball—to be held at Plant City’s Mike Sansone Park.

In addition to drawing thousands of athletes into Hillsborough County for the two-day event, the SSF is expecting to draw more than 9,000 spectators for this year’s event. For more information, head to http://allsportsinvitational.com/!

Make sure you check back soon for more on Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports!

Happy Friday Sports Fans! Exciting news to update you on from the Sports World. As of this week, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission has launched a new brand along with a new identity. At the forefront of the change is a new logo that combines a sports-specific look and feel of a sell-out crowd with the traditional Florida elements of sunshine and water. In addition to the new look, the TBSC has a new mantra – “Gameday. Every Day.”  See what sporting events are coming up in Tampa by visiting the TBSC website: www.tampabaysports.org.

As part of the launch, the TBSC has orchestrated a national marketing initiative, “Experience New Now”, to promote Tampa Bay area sports facilities.  This campaign aims to show how the area’s facilities are undergoing massive renovations while maintaining their status as premier event venues.  To Experience New Now in Tampa Bay, head to http://tampabayisnewnow.com/.

Hey Sports Fans, hope all of you had a great New Years! For all of you softball fans out there, this Friday and Saturday, Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be hosting the Inaugural God and Country Weekend at Plant City Stadium. Many of the nation’s finest softball stars will gather as the FCA Softball All-Star team takes on the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team in a special exhibition weekend!

The FCA All-Star team includes Olympic Gold Medalist Dot Richardson, two-time Olympic medalist Jennie Finch, three-time Olympic gold medalist Leah Amico and many more.  The Wounded Warriors team features some of the nation’s bravest heroes who have sustained severe injuries in combat that required amputation. In spite of these injuries, these extremely athletic soldiers have persevered through extensive rehabilitation to remain competitive.

Tickets are $5 per person Friday, $10 for both of games Saturday, and $25 per seat for Saturday evening’s God and Country Banquet.  All event tickets are available online at www.fcasoftball.org or they can be purchased at the gate on the day of the event.

Make sure you check back soon for more on Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports!

Hello again Sports Fans, Tony here to remind you about Replay Tampa Bay Holiday Sporting Goods Drive taking place now through December 27th! This provides a unique opportunity to help local kids in need this holiday season by donating your new or gently used sporting goods at one of three Elder Automotive locations and receive a voucher for a complimentary small Papa John’s Pizza* (from participating locations) and a complimentary McDonald’s McCafe beverage* (from participating locations). Each Elder Automotive location also has a register to win special prizes, such as suite tickets to local sporting events.

This December, the Tampa Bay area will be packed with sporting events.  From soccer and youth football to wrestling and cheer leading, there’ll be something for everyone to watch! 

The 2011 United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League North American Finals will take place Dec. 2-6 at JC Handley Sports Complex and the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center. 

The United Youth Football League will host their 2011 National Championships Dec. 2-10 at Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex in Plant City. The National Championships will attract 100-125 youth football programs, which will draw nearly 6,800 participants and more than 6,000 spectators for Hillsborough County.

Florida Half Century Amateur Softball Association, Inc. will bring its 2011 Softball State Championship back to Tampa on Dec. 10-11 at the Ed Radice Softball Complex, Greco Softball Complex and New Tampa Community Park. 

The Mid-Florida Football and Cheerleading Conference All-Star Weekend will take place Dec. 16-18, utilizing both Wiregrass and Jefferson High Schools.  Also, the 16th Annual Cougar Invitational, a 32-team wrestling tournament, will be hosted at the Tampa Convention Center Dec. 2-3.

Finally, the Dixie Paint Horse Club will bring their 2011 December Zone Show to the Florida State Fairgrounds’ Bob Thomas Equestrian Center on Dec. 3-4. 

For more information about these events, log on to www.TampaBaySports.org.Stay tuned for more on Tampa Bay area events and Tampa Bay Sports!

Hello there Tampa Bay Sports fans! Hope you are doing well on this Monday afternoon! 

Thanks to all who were able to make it out to last nights awesome victory that saw the Bulls fight past a tough Central Florida opponent to the tune of an overtime 2-1 victory!

A record breaking crowd of over 3,000 individuals attended the match.  What an incredible atmosphere!  The 2-1 victory has earned USF the right to host New Mexico (undefeated and ranked #1 in the country in the NSCAA coaches poll) in the Third Round this coming Sunday (11/26) at 6pm. 

Once again, through a partnership with USF and the NCAA, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, been able to get free admission for all attendees again on Sunday so we can re-create this amazing atmosphere!

So make plans to be there this weekend folks to cheer the Bulls on to another victory!

Thanks to all for your help in helping pack the new Corbett Soccer Stadium last night and for Sunday’s Third Round match for our Bulls! For more information, be sure to check out the USF Athletics website! BE sure to check back in for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!

Hello out there sports fans! Hope you guys are doing well as we head into the weekend!

This weekend there are some great events going on, but especially one in particular at the campus of the University of South Florida!

As you may or may not be aware, USF Men's Soccer team is the #7 seed in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament and is hosting a second round match this Sunday.  Through a partnership with USF and the NCAA, The Tampa Bay Sports Commission has made available to fans free admission for all attendees this Sunday!

This year's  Bulls squad (12-3-3, 7-0-2) went undefeated in Big East Play to earn the second Red Division Championship in program history, including a 7-2-1 mark at home during the 2011-12 season! The impressive regular season run for USF earned the team a No. 7 overall seed and a chance to play in front of their own packed house at least one more time versus the University of Central Florida!

It's gonna be a great atmosphere and a great game folks, so I suggest you make plans to come out and support the Bulls!

So to sum up everything I just said:

• Basically the main details are:
• No. 7 seed USF vs UCF
• Sunday – 6 pm
• Corbett Soccer Stadium on USF's campus
• Free admission for everyone
• 1st 500 kids get a free mini-soccer ball

That's it for now folks, we'll update you on the progress of the Bulls throughout the tourney so be sure to stay tuned in for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay Sports updates!

Good day fellow bloggers, this just released! The Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) and Elder Automotive Group have teamed up to forge a three-year exclusive partnership. The partnership will kick off this month with Replay Tampa Bay, a holiday sporting goods drive taking place from Nov. 17 through Dec. 27, 2011.

Through this program, and the assistance of DeBartolo Sports and Events, Metropolitan Ministries and the Ryan Nece Foundation, members of the Tampa Bay community have the opportunity to help local kids in need this holiday season by donating new or gently used sporting goods at one of three Elder Automotive locations.

Those who donate an item will receive a voucher for a complimentary small pizza from Papa John’s Pizza and a complimentary McDonald’s McCafe beverage (from participating locations).  Donors will also be eligible to win special prizes, such as suite tickets to local sporting events.

Donation locations are:


Elder Ford of Tampa
9560 North Florida Ave.  
Tampa, FL 33612

Jaguar of Tampa
320 East Fletcher Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612

Saab of Tampa/Tampa Mitsubishi
11608 North Florida Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612

For more details on the partnership or on how to get involved, visit our website at www.tampabaysports.org!

Until next time fans, thanks for following and check back for more Tampa Bay Sports updates!

Hey Sports Fans! Tony here to remind you that Tampa Bay is playing host to the American Poolplayers Association (APA) and its annual U.S. Amateur Pool Championship this weekend! This Championship will bring the top amateur poolplayers in the nation to the Bay Area and will be held at Strokers in Palm Harbor.

The championship consists of both Men’s and Women’s division competitions. The poolplayers qualified for this weekend’s tournament in various preliminary rounds held throughout the country in September. The women’s competition is comprised of 32 players, while the men’s has 128 competitors. The winner of each division competition will earn a berth in the U.S. Open Pro Championship next year, as well as a chance to defend their championship at the 2012 U.S. Amateur Pool Championship.  

The competition will involve a double elimination tournament, race-to-7, with a maximum of five games of 8-Ball and eight games of 9-Ball. When the competition is down to just two, the match becomes single elimination race-to-11, with a maximum eight games of 8-ball and 13 games of 9-Ball.

The APA is based out of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. It is regarded as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, since it established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for amateur billiards. For more information about the APA and this event, visit the website at www.poolplayers.com.

Until next time, have a great weekend and stay tuned in for more updates on Tampa Bay Sports!

Hey Sports Fans, tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game presented by American Family Insurance.  The fifth-annual event is slated for 8 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2012, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.  The competition, which will be televised on ESPN, highlights the nation’s top high school seniors.

Tampa-area participants include: Nelson Agholor (Berkeley Prep High School), Dante Fowler Jr. (Lakewood Senior High School) and Brian Poole (Southeast High School).  Additionally, 10 of the Top 15 ESPNU 150 prospects are competing in the game, including three players who have committed to Florida State: No. 1 Mario Edwards (Billy Ryan High School/Denton, Texas), No. 10 Chris Casher (Davidson High School/Mobile, Ala.) and No. 11 Jameis Winston (Hueytown High School/Hueytown, Ala.).  No. 30 Jessamen Dunker (Boynton Beach High School/Boynton Beach, Fla.), who has committed to Florida, will also be a participant.

Don't miss your chance to catch these great high school All-Stars in action! Be sure to stay tuned for more Tampa Bay sports updates coming soon!

Hey there sports fans! Three years ago, Red Bull FlugTag first touched down in Tampa and set a FlugTag attendance record for U.S. events when 110,000 people crowded around the Tampa Convention Center waterfront. We have the opportunity to beat that record tomorrow, when FlugTag returns to the Tampa Convention Center. This will be FlugTag’s only U.S. event in 2011.

FlugTag, German for “flying day” is an event where participants design and build a flying device and compete to see whose can fly the farthest. Red Bull has hosted more than 90 FlugTag events worldwide since 1991. The 38 teams will try to exceed the world record, 207 feet, set in St. Paul, Minn. last year. Judges will rate the teams based on their pre-flight skit, creativity and the length of their flight. One of the judges this year is former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and current Tampa philanthropist, Ryan Nece.

For those planning to attend on Saturday (admission is free!), FlugTag opens at 11 a.m. and the opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 p.m. However, plan for ample travel time, due to the Platt Street Bridge closure, the 17th annual Tampa Police Memorial Run occurring on Bayshore Boulevard tomorrow morning and of course, the increased traffic for FlugTag. Officials recommend that people park in the city’s downtown garages or in Ybor City and take public transit into downtown.

For more information, visit www.redbullflugtagusa.com/Tampa2011.  That's it for now, but stay tuned in for more Tampa Bay sports news and updates!

Silver Dollar Shooters Club is pleased to announce that it will host its annual “Shoot for a Cure” on Saturday October 22nd. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the shoot begins at 10 a.m.

The entrance fee is a $30 donation and gets participants 50 pink targets and 50 pink shotgun shells. The pink targets are provided by White Flyer Targets and the pink shotgun shells are provided by Federal Premium Ammunition. Shooters must provide their own eye and ear protection, as well as gun, but can rent a gun from the pro shop on-site.

Other sponsors of the “Shoot for a Cure” include Browns Trophies, Karl Flammer Ford, ABC Action News, Mercedes Benz Tampa Bay and Silver Dollar Firearms.

Silver Dollar Shooters Club is located at 17202 Target Way in Odessa, Fla. Visit http://silverdollartrap.com/ for more information. Check back for more updates on things to do in Tampa Bay!

The YFL consists of football teams and cheer squads from throughout the United States, ranging in age from six to 16 years old. The football championship will consist of eight days of competition in Plant City, while the cheer competition will be held over four days at the Lakeland Center. The football championship features two different components – an Invitational Bowl Series and the National Championship.

For more information on the YFL or this event, please visit www.unitedyfl.com or www.TampaBaySports.org. That's all we have on this for now. Come back soon for more updates on Tampa Bay Sports!