Tampa, Florida

===Soccer===

====Rowdies====
The [[Tampa Bay Rowdies]] compete in the [[USL Championship|United Soccer League Championship]] after spending their first 6 seasons in the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]]. The team began play at Tampa's [[George M. Steinbrenner Field]] in 2010, then moved to St. Petersburg's [[Al Lang Field]] in 2011. The Rowdies won their first league championship in [[Soccer Bowl 2012]]. The Rowdies made the USL Championship Final for the first time in 2020, though it was cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]]. The Rowdies and the other finalist, [[Phoenix Rising FC]], were named co-champions by the league.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Rowdies move on to USL Championship Final |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/soccer/tampa-bay-rowdies-move-on-to-usl-championship-final/67-d40e8237-8c07-4df4-b4bd-86bba4fd8bca |access-date=October 28, 2020 |website=wtsp.com |date=October 25, 2020 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=October 31, 2020 |title=USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1130727-usl-championship-final-cancelled-season-concludes-with-tampa-bay-phoenix-as-conference-title-winners |access-date=November 1, 2020 |website=USL Championship |language=en-us |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126111608/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1130727-usl-championship-final-cancelled-season-concludes-with-tampa-bay-phoenix-as-conference-title-winners |url-status=live }}</ref>

Previously, Tampa had hosted two top-level soccer teams. The [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|original North American Soccer League]] was the area's first major sports franchise, beginning play in 1975 at Tampa Stadium. The Rowdies were an immediate success, drawing good crowds and winning [[Soccer Bowl '75]] in their first season to bring Tampa its first professional sports championship. Though the NASL ceased operations in 1984, the Rowdies continued to compete in various soccer leagues until finally folding in 1993.

====Mutiny====
The success of the Rowdies prompted [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS) to award Tampa a charter member of the new league in 1996. The [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]] were the first MLS [[Supporters' Shield]] winner and had much early success beginning in [[1996 Major League Soccer season|1996]]. However, the club folded in [[2001 MLS season|2001]] when local ownership could not be secured mainly due to a financially poor lease agreement for [[Raymond James Stadium]]. The city has no current representation in MLS, however, the Rowdies are seeking to join the league.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/09/mls-expansion-city-tampa-bay-rowdies-st-petersburg |title=MLS expansion city profile: Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg |last=Straus |first=Brian |newspaper=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110143037/http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017/01/09/mls-expansion-city-tampa-bay-rowdies-st-petersburg |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Sundomecloseup.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Yuengling Center]]]]