Miami Travel Guide in english 
Guia turística Miami en español 
Miami Guide de Voyage en français 
Guida turistica Miami in italiano
Miami Travel Guide in english Guia turística Miami en español Miami Guide de Voyage en français Guida turistica Miami in italiano
Miami is one the best cities in the country for sunbathing, night-clubbing, and people watching, but it's also one of the best cities for spectator sports. With its beautiful weather, mild temperatures, friendly people and latest sports facilities, Miami is a great city for sport fans. While in Miami, you may want to get a glimpse of the city's stars, the NFL's Miami Dolphins playing a home game, cheer on the NBA's Miami Heat, or want to spend a few hours watching MLB's Florida Marlins. Or you can watch the annual Tennis Tournament which brings in famous tennis players such as Roger Federer, a NASCAR event, or even watch college sports such as the University of Miami's Hurricanes. Whatever sports you enjoy, you will find it in abundance in Miami.
If you are looking for a specific sport to watch, you'll want to find out if the season is still going on while you're in Miami. If you love basketball, the season is from October to May, and if the Miami Heat make the playoffs or finals as was the case in 2006 and 2011, the season extends until June. MLB fans should plan to watch the Marlins in action from April to October, Football fans can go cheer on the Dolphins from September to January, and hockey fans can check out the Panthers from October to April. Since the high season for tourism in Miami is from December until May, you are bound to find an interesting game to watch during that time.
Miami holds a host of sports events all the time. No matter what sports you follow, there's bound to be a team that you will enjoy watching. The NFL, the NHL, MLB and the NBA are all represented here by various good teams that have all at one time made or won the national championships except for the Panthers. If you want to watch the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, or the University of Miami Hurricanes in action, head to the Sun Life Stadium located in Miami Gardens. The NHL hosts its games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida near Fort Lauderdale. If you want to catch a Miami FC soccer game, you'll have to get a ticket to the Tropical Park Stadium. Tickets to games can vary depending on the sport, but can be purchased from each team's website or from Ticketmaster.
Different sports teams hold their games at different venues. To get to the Sun Life Stadium which hosts the annual Orange Bowl, the Marlins, the Dolphins and the Hurricanes from the South, take I-95 North on the Florida Turnpike and get off at Exit 2 X Dolphin Toll Plaza to the stadium. From Fort Lauderdale and North points, take Florida Turnpike South to exit 2X to the east side of the Stadium. The BankAtlantic Center is located on 2555 NW 136th Ave, Sunrise and driving directions from various locations can be easily obtained on the center's website or MapQuest.
Tickets to various sports events can be obtained from each stadium's ticket box office, online or over the phone. Senior citizen and military discounts are usually not available online or over the phone for professional sports. But they may be obtained at the box office site with the proper ID, although it is not guaranteed.
The best way for budget sports fans to get discounted tickets is to book their tickets in advance of the game before seats fill up and demand pushes prices to skyrocket. Beware of third-party sites offering to sell you tickets, they may be fake. Also call the sports team's ticket line and ask if there are any discounts available. For those who have money to spend, they can get premium tickets from the venues they will be going to. For example the Sun Life Stadium offers luxury services, seating and gourmet food with its Club memberships, Legends and Executive suites, and Field Club.
Watching a sports game is one of the most exciting ways to spend a few hours in Miami. There are many sports events going on year-round and families, groups, couples and the solo traveler will have a blast no matter what sport they choose to watch. Some sports venues offer discounted rates for groups of 10 and over, sobe sure to ask about them out before purchasing.
In addition to professional sports, Miami hosts a lot of national and international sports events such as the Orange Bowl, the Sony Ericsson Open for tennis, and the ING Tropical Marathon. Miami has state of the art sports facilities such as the Sun Life Stadium and the American Airlines Arena, and tons of college and smaller events going on throughout the year.
Miami is a championship city for sports and is one of 12 U.S cities which have teams for four major professional sports leagues. The National Football League is represented by the Miami Dolphins. Major League Baseball is represented by the Florida Marlins, the National Basketball Association has the Miami Heat, and the National Hockey League is represented in Miami by the Florida Panthers.
Miami is an incredible tourist destination with its fabulous beaches, nightlife and restaurants, but it's also an important hub for local sports. It has major professional sports teams that routinely compete in nationwide championships as well as many exciting other sports events.
