Here in Lakeland, you don’t have to travel to a big city to find exciting sports. Swan City is home to three professional and minor league sports teams that bring major excitement. Whether you consider yourself a hooper, batter, or striker, there’s a team for you to root for.
The beautiful game ⚽
You can find the Florida Tropics Soccer Club playing arena matches indoors at the RP Funding Center and outdoor matches at Auburndale’s Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. The team was the United Premier Soccer League championship winner in 2019. Their season lasts from December-April, and you can purchase tickets to their four remaining home games now. Fun fact: The Tropics organization also oversees a youth soccer league, the newly named Swan City SC.
Nothin’ but net 🏀
Catch a Lakeland Magic game, the NBA G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic. The team typically plays from November-April at the RP Funding Center, and the Magic won their first G League Championship in 2021. Keep an eye out for their upcoming promotional games, and support the team by wearing Magic blue, black, and silver.
Fun fact: The Lakeland Magic was previously based out of Erie, Pennsylvania and was called the Erie Bayhawks.
Is there anything more classic than a baseball game on a sunny day? | Photo by @kvb05
Photo by @kvb05
Take me out to the ballgame ⚾
Root, root, root for the home team at a Lakeland Flying Tigers game. The Flying Tigers are the minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, who also play their spring training games in Lakeland. Head to Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium wearing your Tigers merch April-September where each game has a different promotion. Fun fact: The Flying Tigers’ relationship with the Detroit Tigers is the longest-running unbroken affiliate relationship in professional baseball.
