The arrival of the ‘big 4’ professional sports like football, baseball, hockey, and basketball has decreased this sport’s popularity. In recent years this amount reduced to only couple of dozen people. Spectators also came in the significant amount of 5000 to 6000. Those were the days when total bets could exceed $1 million USD, at the courts in one day. In the 1980s, there were about 14 frontons in the various parts of the U.S., including Florida, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Las Vegas. At the end of the 19th century, when Basque migrated to California and Idaho to work as shepherds, Jai Alai was the most popular sport in Havana. Before the 1980s, it became difficult for any other sport to retain an audience, while Jai Alai attracted thousands of spectators. And it showed a significant renovation in Miami in the mid-1960s. In the 1950’s Jai Alai boomed in Florida. Let’s examine a bit of the history of the sport, and look at what will be its future in the US. The last professional Jai Alai fronton runs at Magic City.

That was the golden era of Jal Alai, however, times have changed. Known as the worlds fastest game.Īmericans used to go to courts, or fronton, not only to watch the game but to bet on it. The important note for this sport is that it was one of the gambling sports in Europe alongside horse racing.

There are three walls in the court two are at the front, back, and left, and on the floor between them. Popular in Cuba, Jai Alai is also played in many Latin American countries. Meaning ‘merry festival’ Jai Alai comes from the Basque region of Spain. On the otherhand, Basque pelota is played in two walled courts. Jai Alai is played in a three-walled court. This game is in which a ball is bounced off a walled space which accelerates it to high speeds with a wicker Cesta held in hand.

This state has hosted the sport since the 50’s. Many locals and vacationers alike are curious about Jai Alai Florida.

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