Florida is a mecca for thrill seekers of every kind. Beyond being home to the Theme Park Capital of the World, Florida's variety of sporting events are also in a league of their own.
From the fast-paced action of the NBA and NFL to the electric atmosphere of Major League Baseball and F1 racing – not to mention Messi mania currently taking over the US soccer scene (sorry, football) – we can help you find the winning formula for 2024 holidays.
In fact, even if you're not a die hard sports fan, we think you'll find something worth cheering about in this comprehensive guide.
So, let’s dive in...
Orlando Sporting Events
If you’re going to Florida, odds are you’ll be spending a portion of your time in Orlando for its world famous family fun. Along the way, here's where you can add sporting entertainment to your itinerary...
Basketball in Orlando
Orlando Magic is one of two top-flight NBA teams in Florida, and its first game of the 2023/24 season kicks off on October 25th against the Houston Rockets. The season runs until mid-April so keep an eye on the schedule in case your trip coincides with one of the biggest games against world-renowned teams like the LA Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks or Chicago Bulls.
American Football in Orlando
It has recently been announced that Orlando will host the NFL Pro Bowl Games on 4th February 2024 at Camping World Stadium. Previously known as 'All-Star Games', the best players from both the AFC and NFC compete against each other in several skills challenges, closing with an exhilarating flag-football game. It’s a great day out for all ages and a chance to see some of the NFL’s biggest talents in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.
Major League Soccer in Orlando
The MLS is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world right now, in part due to the seismic acquisition of arguably the best football player of all time. Lionel Messi himself has joined Inter Miami alongside fellow Barcelona alumni Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
So, if you are lucky enough to be in O-Town on a night when the
Orlando City SC men’s team play Inter Miami CF, you could see the GOAT up close. The two teams meet again for the last time this season on 25th September 2023 but keep an eye out for the 2023/24 fixtures that are released ahead of schedule for the season, which begins in February next year.
And on the back of the exhilaration of England’s Lionesses reaching the Women’s World Cup Final this summer, why not turn towards a thrilling NWLS game at the Exploria Stadium and watch Orlando Pride make their way up the women’s league table?
Sporting Events Near Orlando
American Football in Jacksonville
A mere two-hour drive north from Orlando takes you to the home of the popular
Jacksonville Jaguars. The team plays at the EverBank Stadium in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville, one of the largest arenas in the NFL that draws more than 80,000 fans on game days. Pre-season matches begin in August with the regular games usually starting on the first Monday in September and ending in January – what a way to heat up your winter Florida trips.
NASCAR Racing in Daytona
You don’t need to be a speed demon to relish in the adrenaline-fueled entertainment of NASCAR racing. In just under one hour's drive from Orlando, you can be in Daytona Beach, the home of the illustrious
Daytona International Speedway. There are dozens of different events throughout the year but the most well-known is the Daytona 500, which usually occurs on the third Sunday in February. The next one is planned for 18th February 2024, with the qualifying rounds a few days before on the 14th – ideal timing if you’re planning a
half-term Florida holiday!
American Football in Tampa
In just a 90 minute drive from Orlando, you can unwind in the
beautiful waterways and Cuban-inspired culture of Tampa. For Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, it's not all been plain sailing since the recent retirement of Tom Brady, but the 2023/24 NFL season promises to be as thrilling as ever and if you’re lucky enough to be on
Florida’s Gulf Coast, you’re in for a real treat. The season’s schedule includes anticipated games against the Philadelphia Eagles on 25th September and fellow Floridians the Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve.
Baseball in Tampa
As the official sport of the USA, it’s only right to go and watch an all-American baseball game with the locals and a hotdog in hand. The start of the MLB 2023/24 season coincides nicely with the
Easter holidays, with the Tampa Bay Rays’ first home game on 28th March against the Toronto Blue Jays. Based in St. Petersburg at Tropicana Field, the Rays will go on to play big hitters such as the Baltimore Orioles in June and the New York Yankees in July 2024.
Ice Hockey in Tampa
We all know that Florida can get rather hot, so what better way to cool down than going to an ice hockey game? Tampa Bay Lightning – often nicknamed the Bolts – is one of two NHL teams based in Florida and has won the coveted Stanley Cup twice in the last three years, as well as making the finals in 2022. Pre-season matches start this September, but the Bolts’ first home game of the new season is against the formidable Nashville Predators on 10th October 2023. The season runs until mid-April so there’s plenty of time to catch a subzero skirmish against one of the many incredible teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Boston Bruins during your trip.
Miami Sporting Events
Miami’s vitality cannot be matched. Like our other suggestions, the Magic City pairs well as a
multi-centre holiday with Orlando, with the flight time between them taking just over an hour. Yet there is enough to explore on a
holiday to Miami alone five times over. And with a host of famous annual sporting events, world-renowned teams and a certain Argentinian footballer to its name, Miami is the city that keeps on giving.
Major League Soccer in Miami
It’s no exaggeration to say that the biggest signing in MLS club history in July was that of seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion, Lionel Messi. His contract is due to run through to the 2025 season so if you’re planning on being in Miami anytime soon, now is your chance to see the man himself in action. The regular season ends in October and playoffs run until December, while February 2024 sees the beginning of the new season with fixtures due to be announced soon.
Formula One Racing in Miami
The 2024 F1 calendar has been released and next year sees the Miami Grand Prix leg of the famous World Championship arrive on the 3rd-5th May – perfect timing to enjoy a magical and warm spring in Florida before the humid summer weather kicks in.
Basketball in Miami
Miami Heat is Florida’s other major basketball team, and one of the most successful in NBA history, with their most recent championship coming in 2013 with one LeBron James on the roster. In the last 4 years, they have reached the NBA Finals twice. The team’s home is at the Kaseya Center, right on the bayfront in Downtown Miami, with the first pre-season home game against the Charlotte Hornets on 10th October 2023 and the regular season kicking off two weeks later against the Detroit Pistons.
Ready to join the action? Plan a personalised Florida holiday today with the help and support of our Florida experts. 
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