Game On: St. Pete-Clearwater’s Ultimate Sporting Season

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St. Pete-Clearwater is gearing up once again for an exciting run of world-class sporting events, giving travellers the perfect excuse to swap grey skies for Gulf Coast sunshine, white sugar sand beaches and emerald waters.
From PGA golf tournaments and Spring Training baseball to high-octane waterfront IndyCar racing, the destination offers a front-row seat to first-class sports with a beachfront view.


Tee off at the PGA Tour: Valspar Championship
Known as “The Most Colourful PGA Tour Tournament in the World” due to its vibrant fan experiences, bold on-course branding and electric atmosphere, the Valspar Championship returns to Tampa Bay from 17-22 March to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Hosted at the renowned Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, the tournament will welcome 2025 champion, Viktor Hovland, alongside the world’s top-ranked golfers.
Whether you’re a devoted fan or new to the game, St. Pete-Clearwater is the perfect destination to experience golf at its very best – and, it offers far more than just spectating. Holidaymakers can enjoy a round or two of their own with more than 40 courses to choose from – including championship resorts like Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club, and local favourites like Mangrove Bay and Tarpon Springs Golf Course.
So, whether you boldly hit the course in your golfer’s best or tentatively stride to the tee box hoping to keep the ball on the green, St. Pete-Clearwater has a course to suit you.


Spring Training: Baseball & Blue Skies
Often described as the godfather of American sports, baseball has been enjoyed in St. Pete-Clearwater for generations. Each year, the destination comes alive as Major League teams arrive in February for Spring Training. Visitors can catch the Philadelphia Phillies warming up for the season in Clearwater, while the Toronto Blue Jays call TD Ballpark in Dunedin home.
The excitement continues in the regular season as the Tampa Bay Rays host the home season opener on 6 April 2026 just across the bay. Why not enjoy America’s Favourite Beaches to pair with America’s favourite game?


IndyCar season on the St. Petersburg waterfront
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg delivers pure adrenaline set against a backdrop of the calm St. Petersburg waterfront. Starting from 27 February to 1 March 2026, the race marks the season opener for IndyCar.
Now in its 22nd consecutive running, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg transforms the downtown streets and the runway of Albert Whitted Airport into a 1.8-mile, 14-turn street-racing circuit. With an estimated 200,000 spectators, the Grand Prix brings global attention and excitement to Florida’s Gulf Coast.


Relax the St. Pete-Clearwater way
And, when it’s time to unwind and dream about the professional sports career that could have been? St. Pete-Clearwater has that covered, too. Between events, visitors can relax on the pristine sands of Honeymoon Island State Park and Clearwater Beach, explore marine life at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, or soak up the culture in downtown St. Pete, home to the Dalí Museum, the Chihuly Collection, and the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art for the perfect change of pace.

Find our more about visiting St. Pete-Clearwater here.