Top Five 2024 Events for Florida Sports Fans After Super Bowl

After Sunday’s Super Bowl, February marks a period when sporting events somewhat slow down. Certain significant occurrences are yet to come, but the major sports championships within the United States won’t commence until spring, specifically during the NBA and NHL playoffs. Miami sports enthusiasts anticipating the upcoming excitement should mark certain crucial dates in their calendar.

A noteworthy incident occurred during the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 playoffs on May 18, 2023 when Josh Mahura of the Florida Panthers had a collision with Jesper Fast of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third overtime in Game One.
Valentine’s Day, February 14, will see the puck dropping in Pittsburgh. While Miami Heat’s performance this season may not be exciting, the Florida Panthers are gaining momentum, indicating the arrival of the hockey season in South Florida. Currently ranking second in the Eastern Conference, the Panthers are projected to make another impressive run for the Stanley Cup. The Panthers’ following games, starting with their match against the Pittsburgh Penguins, come at the perfect time to demonstrate support for the local team.

On February 15, the Miami Marlins will commence their spring training. Although this isn’t the most thrilling event, the start of spring training always evokes some sentiment and curiosity. The Marlins will start their spring training at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report on February 15, followed by the entire team on February 20. Their spring opener against the Cardinals will take place on February 24. With yet another change in the front office this offseason, it will be thrilling to watch the Marlins’ performance in their 20-year-long three-year reconstruction phase.

On February 16, the NBA All-Star Weekend will take place. Though ordinarily, Miami fans don’t particularly anticipate this event, considering the Miami team’s current performance, it could provide some much-needed entertainment. Miami’s Bam Adebayo will be participating in this mid-season special for the third time. Watching Bam play alongside teammates that are performing up to par will be a refreshing change for Miami fans.

On February 21, the Inter Miami Season opener is set to take place. Soccer lovers will be thrilled to know that Lionel Messi and his comrades are resuming their matches in South Florida, starting with Inter Miami FC against Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium. This match will not only be Miami’s first game of the season but will also signal the beginning of the Major League Soccer season. After causing uproar among multiple countries’ supporters who were disappointed to see Leo Messi on the bench after paying heavily for tickets, Inter will be eager to return to familiar grounds.

Looking further ahead, on April 25, the 2024 NFL Draft will take place. Scheduled in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25 till 27, this event will provide Miami Dolphins fans something to look forward to in the break between now and the season opener in September. With six picks in the draft, including the 21st overall, the Dolphins have a strong chance to strengthen their team. However, the Dolphins were penalized with the loss of their third-round pick by the NFL for trying to acquire quarterback Tom Brady and coach Sean Payton in 2019 and the seasons that followed.