NHL Lockout Ends - Hockey to Return to Tampa Bay and South Florida in January
The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association reached agreement on the framework of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement early Sunday morning.
After a marathon 16-plus hour negotiating session that began Saturday afternoon, the sides announced an agreement in principle shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday.
"We still have more work to do, but it is good to be at this point," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
The League did not announce the start date of the season or the number of games each team will play. Various reports suggest teams will play either 50-game schedules or 48-game schedules, depending on the date on which the season starts. Those details will be announced soon, Commissioner Bettman said.
A report in the Tampa Bay Times suggested, training camps could open Saturday, January 12 or as late as Monday, January 14. The league could play a 50-game schedule beginning Jan. 15 or a 48-game schedule beginning Jan. 19.
The regular season likely will run through early May. The Stanley Cup playoffs should wrap up by the end of June.
Find out more about the upcoming seasons for the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning as details emerge on the 2012-13 season.
125th Anniversary of Florida Spring Training Baseball to be Celebrated in 2013
When the 2013 Major League Baseball Florida Spring Training season begins in late February in 14 locations around the Sunshine State, it will mark 125 years since the Washington Nationals headed south for pre-season warmups.
The first full day of games is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013 and the season stretches through late March with over 300 games slated during the over 30 days of Major League Baseball action.
Plenty has happened since the days of baseball players wearing wool uniforms playing in small stadiums before crowds of a few thousand. The 2012 season saw the opening of Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, the state-of-the art home of the Boston Red Sox.
More than 1.6 million fans attended Florida Spring Training Games in 2012 and the annual economic impact of Major League Baseball's venture to the Sunshine State is $753 million, according to a 2009 survey conducted by the Florida Sports Foundation.
Visit www.floridagrapefruitleague.com for all of the latest news of the 2013 season. Schedules for all 15 teams are posted and there are already a few times with tickets on sale.
The Olympic Spirit License Plate supports Olympic Movement, Florida's Olympic athletes and Florida’s Sunshine State Games and the Florida Senior Games State Championships.
Florida Blue
As Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, Florida Blue is committed to helping the people of Florida in the pursuit of health. With affordable solutions that offer a more personal, one-on-one approach to health and wellness, Florida Blue strives to make a real difference in helping people lead healthy lives. To find out how Florida Blue can become your partner in the pursuit of health, visit www.FloridaBlue.com or stopy by the Florida Blue Center nearest you.
See how Florida's 3 NFL Teams and 13 College Football fared during the 2012-13 season at
Florida Football Central
a weekly update of Florida Football (updated 1/3/13).
Upcoming Events
Click here for the 2013 Sunshine State Games Calendar of Events
March, 2013
Florida Sports Foundation Board of Directors Meeting
Tampa
April - May, 2013
Sunshine State Games Sport Shooting Championships
Various Locations
May 10-12, 2013
Sunshine State Games - Bradenton Area Festival
Manatee County (Sports Offered: Figure Skating, Jump Rope, Quidditch, Rugby)
May 10-12, 2013
Sunshine State Games Basketball Championships
Alachua County
May 12, 2013
Sunshine State Games Artistic Roller-skating Championships
Semoran Skateway, Casselberry
May - June, 2013
Sunshine State Games Lacrosse Series
Parkland, Gainesville, Wesley Chapel
June 7-9, 2013
Sunshine State Games - Alachua County Festival
(Sports Offered: Archery, Fencing, Lacrosse, Rowing, Synchronized Swimming, Swimming, Ultimate)
June 14-16, 2013
Sunshine State Games Water Polo Championships
Coral Springs
June 21-23, 2013
Sunshine State Games - Polk County Festival
(Sports Offered: Canoe/Kayak, Judo, Karate, Racquetball, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling)
June 29, 2013
Sunshine State Games Track & Field Championships
Melbourne Central Catholic High School