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Miami is home to world-class sports! Besides the Miami Dolphins, the only team in the NFL to ever have a perfect season, Miami has bragging rights in college football and baseball, pro basketball, hockey and baseball. The American Airlines Arena is the stomping ground of Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat; Dolphin Stadium is also home to the National Champion University of Miami Hurricanes and two time World Series winning Florida Marlins. Just a few miles up the road in Sunrise, the Florida Panthers rule the BankAtlantic Center. Horse racing fans can get their fill of high stakes action at beautiful Gulfstream Park from February through April, including the Florida Derby. No matter the season, South Florida has lots of sports action to watch!
FIU Golden Panthers Florida Marlins Florida Panthers Miami Dolphins Miami Heat Miami Hurricanes
Sun Belt Conference members, the Florida International University Golden Panthers have produced several professional and Olympic athletes, including current players in Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the NBA, and the WNBA. The Golden Panthers have also won two NCAA Division II National Championships in men's soccer, in 1982 and 1984. FIU's baseball team began play in 1973 as a Division II member, and is one of the most successful programs in the school's history. This can be attributed to the team reaching the post-season 13 times in school history, including eight as a Division I program, and five as a Division II program including a Division II College World Series appearance.
The Marlins’ inaugural season was in 1994, followed rather quickly by a World Series win in 1997. Despite never taking first place in their Eastern Division of the National League, the Marlins once again won the World Series in 2003, the only franchise to win the World Series the only times it has made post-season play. The Marlins currently share Sun Life Stadium with the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Hurricanes, but are in development for a new stadium for the 2012 season.
The Marlins are the first team in Major League Baseball to have a dance/cheer team, "The Marlins Mermaids." Since their 2003 debut, the "Marlins Mermaids" have influenced other MLB teams to develop their own cheer/dance squads such as those in basketball and football.
In 2008, the Marlins started a home game concert series for Saturday night home games. After each of those, fans are invited to stay for fireworks and live music. Past performers include KC and the Sunshine Band, Kansas, Bret Michaels, Flo Rida and Cuban singer Albita.
Hockey in South Florida? That question was answered with a resounding "Yes!" in 1993 when the Florida Panthers debuted at the Miami Arena. That expansion team, started by Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga, went on to win their Eastern Conference championship, with enthusiastic fans flinging fake rubber rats onto the ice in celebration. The Panthers have since moved to the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, near the Sawgrass Mills Mall, and haven't won a conference championship since 1996, but South Florida fans still love to see the Cats on the ice.
The ONLY NFL team to ever have a perfect season, the Miami Dolphins are the pride of South Florida. The Dolphins have been part of Miami since 1966 and won their first Super Bowl with a perfect season only six years later in 1972. This was followed by a second Super Bowl win in 1973. Coached for 25 years by the legendary Don Shula, the Dolphins are the oldest major league professional sports franchise in Florida.
The Dolphins started play in the University of Miami's Orange Bowl, and moved to Joe Robbie Stadium, now Sun Life Stadium, in 1987. Besides the two Super Bowl wins, the Dolphins have won five AFC conference championships (the last one with Dan Marino as quarterback in 1984), 13 division championships and have made the playoffs 22 times.
Since their start as an NBA expansion team in 1988, the Miami Heat have made the playoffs 12 out of their 20 seasons, won seven division titles and won the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. They started playing in the Miami Arena but moved to the brand new American Airlines Arena, also in downtown Miami, in 1999.
A number of superstars have played for the Heat over the years, including Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning. The current roster now boasts “The Big 3,” co-captains Dwyane Wade and Lebron James, and Chris Bosh.
Five time NCAA champions in football (1983, 87, 89, 91, 2001), four time College World Series champs in baseball (82, 85, 99, 2001) and the pipeline to the pros for dozens of athletes, the University of Miami Hurricanes are a force in college sports. The 'Canes played football at the Orange Bowl in Little Havana until 2007; the OB was torn down and the team moved to Dolphin Stadium, sharing space with the Dolphins and Marlins. Baseball is still played at Mark Light Field on the Coral Gables Campus of UM, in the renovated Alex Rodriguez Park, while basketball moved to the new BankUnited Center on campus after years of playing at the Miami Arena downtown. When it comes to the University of Miami and its fans, it's always Hurricane season!
