IN THIS EDITION
- 2022 SEC Men's Basketball Tourney Tickets
- TBSC Debuts Game Day. Everyday. Podcast
- Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston
- US Gymnastics Prepares for Tampa Bay
- USA Field Hockey Returns Thanksgiving '22
- Tampa Bay Kids Tri Returns April 9, 2022
- Replay Tampa Bay Making Local Impact
- After School All-Stars Cornhole Tourney
- Valspar Championship Tees-Off in March
- Relive the 2022 Tampa Bay Sneaker Soiree
- Tampa Bay named 2021 "Best Sports City"
- NCAA DII Championship Rewind
- TBSC Volunteer Opportunities
- Upcoming Youth and Amateur Events
SEC Basketball Returns to Amalie Arena in One Week!
In one week, the Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament returns to Tampa Bay for the first time since 2009. Don't miss out on your chance to purchase your all-session ticket books today! Tickets can be purchased at SECTicketOffice.com or Ticketmaster.com.
All-session ticket books are available and will permit admission to all 13 games and seven sessions. Single-game tickets will go on sale in early March. The SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will take place March 9-13, at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Sports Commission Debuts Gameday. Every Day. Podcast
The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is proud to announce the launch of its “Gameday. Every Day.” podcast, which debuted on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The podcast is centered around bringing fans an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at our community’s major sports and entertainment events, Tampa Bay’s active youth and amateur market, and many other TBSC initiatives
A pair of familiar faces will anchor the show as television personality Ryan Bass and TBSC Executive Director, Rob Higgins, will guide the conversation over the course of the year.
The show will be available across a series of visual and audio platforms, including Apple, Spotify, and Google.
Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: The Rise of SEC Basketball
When Greg Sankey became SEC commissioner in 2015, his initial concern was about the league’s underachieving men’s basketball teams. Only 14 NCAA Tournament bids in a four-season span? Not good enough.
Sankey is a former basketball coach. Perhaps appropriately, he’s also an avid marathon runner. So the SEC implemented a methodical long game — proper appropriation of resources, careful coaching hires, sharp marketing, relentless recruiting — and that steady, productive pace has worked to produce a memorable 2021-22 season.
With the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament set for March 9-13 at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, the league has continually flexed its muscles. Five teams are in the top 25 — with Auburn (5th) and Kentucky (7th) having spent time in the top five — and seven different SEC squads were ranked overall this season. The SEC, which won its annual challenge series against the Big 12, has a realistic opportunity at seven bids in the NCAA’s 68-team field.
2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Coming to Tampa in August
Amalie Arena and the Tampa Convention Center will play host to the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships and 2022 National Congress and Trade Show, USA Gymnastics announced Friday.
The annual national championships for artistic gymnastics will take place August 18-21 and will determine the men’s and women’s junior and senior all-around and individual event national champions. The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams will also be named following the competition. Annually featuring roughly 2,000 attendees, the accompanying National Congress and Trade Show will run concurrently in the nearby convention center.
“We are thrilled that USA Gymnastics has selected Tampa Bay to stage their 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships and National Congress and Trade Show,” said Jason Aughey, Senior Vice President of Sports Tourism for the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “This is a community that supports major events in a big way and the fact that this flagship event has not been hosted in the southeast United States, one of the largest gymnastics regions in the country, since 2004 will undoubtedly create strong interest and an incredible atmosphere at Amalie Arena and the Tampa Convention Center in August.”
USA Field Hockey Returns to Tampa for 2022 National Hockey Festival
USA Field Hockey will once again partner with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Visit Tampa Bay and The Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay to host the 2022 National Hockey Festival. The event will take place from Thursday, November 24 through Saturday, November 26 and USA Field Hockey is proud of the continued relationship.
“We are thrilled that USA Field Hockey has elected to return to Tampa Bay in 2022,” commented Jason Aughey, Senior Vice President of Sports Tourism of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Hosting the National Hockey Festival has had a profound impact on our community in so many ways. From the economic impact it generates over Thanksgiving week for our local businesses, hotel partners and Tampa International Airport to the exposure it creates for the sport of field hockey in the market, this signature event is one we hope to keep in Tampa Bay long-term.”
Replay Tampa Bay Sets New Sporting Goods Donation Record at Annual Joy of Giving Event
Kicking off the holiday season in grand fashion, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC), alongside the Bullard Family Foundation (BFF) and the WWE, participated in the largest Replay Tampa Bay distribution event in initiative history (2011). In total, thanks to generous community donations, 500 new sporting goods were distributed to local youth at the annual Joy of Giving event at Sligh Magnet Middle School on Saturday, December 18.
“For 10 years, Replay Tampa Bay has been a force in the community to help keep kids active and in the game,” said Rob Higgins, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Getting a chance to help lead the biggest distribution event to date during the holiday season when our community needs it the most is truly humbling. Having so many great community partners, especially the Bullard Family Foundation, step up for our local youth in need is a reminder that our “Team Tampa Bay” mantra goes far beyond any stadium, court, gym, field, rink, or wrestling ring."
Event Development Institue Upcoming Events
The Event Development Institute (EDI), in conjunction with Adventure Island, hosts the annual Tampa Bay Kids Triathlon (TBKT). The TBKT offers youth athletes, experienced and first-timers alike, the unique opportunity to swim, bike and run in and around Busch Gardens’® premier water park, Adventure Island.
Boys and girls ages 6-10 (junior varsity division) and 11-14 (varsity division) are eligible to participate. The first 400 registrants receive a complimentary ‘Stay and Play’ ticket to Adventure Island®, valid on race day only. All participants receive a race-day ‘Swag Bag’, including an official Under Armour race shirt, in addition to a finisher’s medal sponsored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upon completion of the race. The top three male and female finishers in each age group category will earn a trophy along with an additional Adventure Island ‘Stay and Play’ ticket.
A portion of registration fees is donated to the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA).
On Thursday, April 21, the City of Tampa and After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay will turn Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park into a lively, competitive and family-friendly atmosphere for their annual Cornhole Challenge.
The event will begin at 5:00PM with an opening ceremony and continue through 9:00pm. The event is free to spectators to attend and will include food trucks, beer sales courtesy of Pepin Distributing, DJ music, a screen showing the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. Proceeds from the event will benefit the After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay.
Relive the 10th Annual Tampa Bay Sneaker Soiree
The 10th edition of the Sneaker Soiree, which took place at Armature Works for the first time and was emceed by television personality Sara Walsh and TBSC Executive Director, Rob Higgins, recognized local sports properties’ on and off-the-field achievements while commemorating leaders and key influencers throughout the Bay Area. Three signature awards as well as the Champion’s Circle presented by Fanatics highlighted the momentous evening.
The Freddie Solomon Moral Courage Award, given to a person who shows tremendous courage in the face of adversity, was given to Sonya Bryson-Kirksey. Tampa Bay supporter, Bemetra Simmons, took home the Tom McEwen Community Advocate of the Year Award which is presented to a person or group of people in recognition of their outstanding support and advocacy of sports in Tampa Bay. Finally, Coach Tony Dungy was awarded the Lee Roy Selmon Lifetime Achievement Award, which is bestowed to an individual(s) that demonstrates a lifetime’s worth of incredible support for the Tampa Bay sports community.
View some of the award videos below, or visit our YouTube channel for the full playlist.
Team Tampa Bay Successfully Hosts Pair of NCAA DII National Championships
2021 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships
Relive the 2021 NCAADivision II Cross Country National Championships hosted by Saint Leo University and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. In total, over 600 runners from across the country competed for the championships!
2021 NCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship
In a dramatic conclusion to the 2021 volleyball season, the University of Tampa Spartans hosted and hoisted in 2021 as they won the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball National Championship in front of their home fans at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. Take a look back at this memorable weekend!
The Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort returns with first-round action beginning on March 17, 2022. Get your family and friends together to see many of the top stars on the PGA Tour compete on the mighty Copperhead Course.
The Tampa Bay sports community has been recognized as the “Best Sports City” of 2021 by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal.
The region earned the honor following an impressive 2021, which featured championship wins by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning, the best season in franchise history by the Tampa Bay Rays, becoming the first city to host both a Super Bowl and WrestleMania in the same year, along with successfully hosting relocated Raptors and Blue Jays regular season games.
“Thank you to Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal for this tremendous honor,” said Rob Higgins, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “There’s no doubt the last couple of years have been beyond challenging, but this award is a great tribute to our community’s resiliency, passion and teamwork. The future is very bright for Team Tampa Bay. We are just getting started!”
TBSC Volunteer Opportunities
TBSC Calendar At A Glance
Upcoming Tampa Bay Sports Commission Youth and Amateur Events
The Tampa Bay area will host over 25 youth and amateur events throughout during March and April.
2022 Southern Grand American Tournament
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic - 3/1/22 - 3/5/22
FYSA Tournament President’s Cup Challenge Round - 3/5/22 - 3/6/22
Joseph Volleyball, Inc. Molten Florida Pre-Qualifier - 3/5/22 - 3/6/22
SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament - 3/9/22-3/13/22
Combined Cathedral Crews Rowing Club 2022 Team Training - 3/25/22 – 4/2/22
2022 Spectrum International Show Bob Thomas Equestrian Center
Valspar Golf Championship - 3/17/22 - 3/20/22
2022 Innings Festival - 3/19/22 – 3/20/22
Tampa United Volleyball Academy United Slam - 3/26/22 – 3/27/22
NFL Player’s Association 7v7 Tournament - 3/26/22 – 3/27/22
DaReal Sportz 7v7 Football 3/26/22 – 3/27/22
2022 USL Academy Cup - 3/30/22 – 4/3/22]
Festival of Speed 2022
Tampa Bay Cup (Adult Soccer)
American Cheer Power Tampa Showdown - 4/2/22 – 4/3/22
FYSA State Cup Challenge Round - 4/8/22 – 4/10/22
Tampa Bay Kids Triathlon - 4/9/22
Tropical 7’s Rugby Tournament 4/15/22-4/16/22
Turn It Up Dance Challenge - 4/22/22 – 4/24/22 Jefferson High School
Dragonboat Training Camp - 4/24/22 – 4/30/22
Tampa BMX State Race - 4/29/22 – 4/30/22
USA Softball Team Training University of South Florida
Red Bull Tampa Pro 4/29/22-5/1/22
For a full list of event previews, tickets, links and more, please visit our TBSC event calendar at the link below.
