Figure 1 Hockey continues to bring most success to Florida
After a few years of triumph, Florida pro sports fans largely endured 2022, with only the Tampa Bay Lightning making it to a national championship. But even the Lightning couldn’t recapture the magic that had seen them enter the Stanley Cup finals as two-time defending champions.
Online betting Florida laws are not looking to come into effect soon, but it is questionable whether we would be backing out home state teams to win a championship anyway. But will 2023 be any better? We are a few weeks in now and thought we would take a look at what might happen for our local teams this year. With the NFL season just about over we thought we would forget about football for now and concentrate on the other pro sports teams.
Basketball
Miami might be looking good in the Southeast division but it is still a way behind some of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and not looking convincing for a deep run into the playoffs this year. Being the best in arguably the weakest division doesn’t bode well for a repeat of the finals appearance of 2020.
Injuries to big players have been a problem for the Heat. But it can still claim to be the best team in Florida. The Magic has some exciting talent on the roster though. Paulo Banchero looks like he could take the team forward in the next few years – and Bol Bol continues to feature on highlight reels. It might be a while before Orlando is competing for championships though.
Baseball
Let’s get the Marlins out of the way as quickly as possible, shall we? Statistically the team with the worst record in the majors since 2010, Miami failed to post a winning record yet again in 2022. The only time they have managed that feat since 2009 was the COVID-affected 2020 campaign.
Bringing in veterans Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler doesn’t seem to have excited the fans either, so we’ll turn our attention instead to the Rays. Tampa Bay might actually be one of the most improved teams in baseball. An early exit to Cleveland in the ALWC last year was disappointing – but the pitching prospects for 2023 look good. There will be a great rotation and important players will be coming back from injuries. A longer postseason run could be on the cards.
Figure 2 Orlando City has an exciting 2023 ahead of it
Soccer
The wait goes on for a Floridian MLS Cup triumph. In fact, there has never even been a finalist from the state. Much is hoped of David Beckham’s project in Miami but his team fell at the first hurdle of the playoffs last year. There will be a lot of excitement about the players brought into the club but the big stars seem to be more attracted to LA at the moment.
While Inter Miami continue to stutter it is Orlando City that has actually been winning things. Although the team also exited in the first round of the playoffs, a successful run in the U.S. Open Cup means that Orlando will play in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2023. It will be the first time it has ever played in a continental competition – and has been drawn against Mexican giant Tigres. Exciting times.
Hockey
Tampa Bay Lightning has been one of the most successful franchises in all of pro sports in the last few years. So much so, that it is sometimes forgotten that there are two hockey teams in Florida. The Panthers’ season fell apart on and off the ice last year and hasn’t really recovered. Acquiring Tkachuk was a big move that hasn’t really paid off yet – but there can be some hope for the future if the rest of the team level up.
Most Florida hockey eyes will be on the Lightning though. After failing to win a third straight Stanley Cup finals in 2022, Tampa Bay began this season curiously subdued. But the confidence has now returned and Nikita Kucherov is looking deadly in front of goal. The Lightning could be the best bet for a Florida team to win a championship in 2023.
