Sports

On this episode of Florida Matters, we speak to city officials about how large sporting events impact the economy in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

The basketball will be championship caliber, of course, but don't forget the week's fan festival, concert in the park, pregame parties, and speakers brought in to help empower and equip women in sports and business.

Hodgson comes to the Bulls after quickly turning around the Red Wolves. USF’s announcement called the 37-year-old Hodgson “one of the nation's top recruiters and a rising head coach.”

The Bulls trailed by one after the first quarter, but the Volunteers took control with a 29-9 run before halftime to easily advance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Thirteen AAC members will provide payments to athletes of up to $20.5 million per school during the first year of the plan, which will begin once a federal judge approves an NCAA antitrust settlement.

Loucks, who played at Florida State from 2008 to 2012, signed a reported five-year deal with his alma mater. The former Clearwater High School star had been working as an NBA assistant coach.

In addition to bringing back two of the most productive players in receiver Godwin and linebacker David, Tampa Bay added edge rusher Haason Reddick in free agency.

The Rays want to make recently upgraded Steinbrenner Field a home away from home. But there's a lot of work to do in the five days between the end of spring training and Tampa Bay's regular-season opener.

Yanni Gourde, part of Tampa's 2020 and 2021 title teams, and Oliver Bjorkstrand add valuable depth. But it was costly: Seattle gets first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a second-rounder this year and Mikey Eyssimont.

FSU claims the Atlantic Coast Conference has shortchanged its members through television contracts and that the school would face exorbitant financial penalties if it leaves for another league.

Gruden, who led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory after the 2002 season, was inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2017 but removed four years later amid an email scandal.

The North American hockey rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.