#1 Sports Event
One of the New Year’s Six college bowl games, the 2017 Orange Bowl saw the Wisconsin Badgers beat hometown favorites the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The halftime performance was by Andy Grammer, and Miami native and America’s Got Talent sensation Yoli Mayer sang the national anthem. More than 65,000 people attended the nearly sold-out showdown. This season, the Orange Bowl will host a College Football Playoff semi-final game. Next: December 29, 2018
#2 Sports Event
In its final run at Key Biscayne, the Miami Open will be headlined by 20-time Grand Slam champion and reigning winner Roger Federer, and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. Women’s World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki also leads the players’ circle. The annual tennis competition draws more than 300,000 fans to the courts at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne, and sponsors include Itaú, Lacoste, and Juan Valdez. Next: March 19-April 1, 2018
#3 Sports Event
South Dade County’s Homestead-Miami Speedway is the site of the Ford EcoBoost, the championship race of the Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series playoffs. Organizers estimate that the event brings in more than $300 million in revenue to the region. Martin Truex Jr. was 2017’s Ford EcoBoost champion. Come 2018, the annual event will ring in its 17th year, welcoming back an NBC broadcast and major Nascar sponsors like Coca-Cola. Next: November 16, 2018
#4 Sports Event
The Honda Classic, a PGA Tour event, broke records in 2018 by attracting 224,642 spectators over seven days spanning from the Monday Pro-Am to Sunday's final round. The numbers represent a 10 percent increase in attendance from 2017. The tournament’s buzziest aspect: The return of Tiger Woods following multiple back surgeries. Next: February 25-March 3, 2019
#5 Sports Event
The Miami Marathon, now featuring title sponsor Fitbit, celebrated its 16th incarnation in January 2018. The popular fitness tracker and technology company signed a three-year deal with the event, marking the first time the races have had a title sponsor. Participants accessed a new app that synced their Fitbit devices to analytics during the race. More than 20,000 runners were at the start line, with more than half of them living outside Miami-Dade County. Participants represented all 50 states along with 80 countries. Next: January 27, 2019
#6 Sports Event
Considered the most important polo tournament in the United States, the U.S. Open Polo Championship is the pinnacle of the 26-goal tournaments held during the 16-week, Florida high-goal winter polo season. An estimated 10,000 people attend the annual competition. In 2017, International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington was awarded the championship through 2021. This year the tournament’s final event was broadcast nationally on CBS. Next: April 20, 2018
#7 Sports Event (up from #11)
Now entering its fourth year in Miami Beach as the second leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour—the world’s premier show jumping series—the beachside tournament draws an international slate of competitors who include the best riders in the world. The equestrian’s South Beach stop is the tour’s only stateside stopover, drawing some 13,000 guests to the 170,000-square-foot build out. Stadium seating is free and open to the public while V.I.P.s enjoy a tented and catered experience. Next: April 12-14, 2018
#8 Sports Event
More than $3.4 million were raised during 2018’s Dolphins Cycling Challenge, bringing the sporting events to-date total to over $22.5 million for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Goo Goo Dolls and Big Head Todd & the Monsters headlined the DCC VII Finish Line Celebration. Over 3,000 cancer survivors and supporters run, walk, and cycle various routes offered throughout the tri-county area. Next: February 2019
#9 Sports Event
The 21st annual Miami Heat Family Festival got an extra boost thanks to the return of team star Dwyane Wade. The festival, presented by Carnival Cruise Line at the AmericanAirlines Arena, raised $550,000 for SafeSpace, the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Guardian Angels, and the Miami Heat Charitable Fund. The carnival-theme celebration featured a food court with eats from more than 50 South Florida restaurants, appearances by DJ Irie, the Miami Heat Dancers, Burnie the mascot, in-arena P.A. announcer Michael B., the Golden Oldies, a silent auction, and more. Next: Spring 2019
#10 Sports Event
More than 250 models from 12 agencies participated in the ninth annual edition, which continued to attract nearly 15,000 spectators to South Beach to watch the bracket-style tournament that benefits the Jack Brewer Foundation. Celebrity visitors included Rob Gronkowski, Claudia Romani, Carlos Dunlap, Jeremy Shockey, and Kelly Olynyk, while guests enjoyed complimentary Whispering Angel and skincare treatments. Media partner iHeartRadio returned and broadcasted live from the two-day event. Next: Spring 2019
