January 2025 – Pelota Press

Refurbished Cancha Ready for Big Tournament

Refurbished Cancha Ready for Big Tournament

January 31, 2025: America’s first and only public jai-alai cancha is ready for the big Sunshine City Tournament this weekend.

After being closed for about a week for much needed repairs and a paint job, everything is a go for the two-day event that kicks off at 10am tomorrow. At least 30 players are expected to compete in the event.

Several players were practicing and included many from the Miami area and Connecticut.

The event will be live with a full camera crew on YouTube. We do not have exact details, but it may be under this title Tampa Jai-alai.

There is a slight chance of a shower or two early Saturday morning, around 5-7am. We don’t foresee any issues outside of a wet court but should be dried up by the 10am post time. Otherwise, the skies should clear up and be in the mid-70s for the rest of the weekend. Can’t argue with that after the cold everyone experienced last week.

https://brackethq.com/b/bbucc/

GROUP A WILL PLAY 5 GAMES TO 7 POINTS EACH. GROUPS B & C PLAY 3 GAMES TO 10 POINTS.

Sunshine City Tournament this Weekend

Jeff ‘Laca’ Conway Blogs

Sunshine City Tournament this Weekend

January 30, 2025 – The second annual “Sunshine City Jai-alai” Tournament is now all set for a big weekend of action. It will feature several retired professional players along with amateurs from the three amateur courts across the country – Connecticut, Miami, and Tampa Bay. A total of 30 players are participating, making it one of the largest gathering of players to ever appear on the 17-year-old cancha in St. Petersburg. Over the past week, the cancha has had renovations to fix up the wear and tear it has occurred over the past year and from damages caused by Hurricane Milton 4 months ago – mainly to the protective netting in the back. The court will get a fresh coat of paint Thursday and be open to the public Friday for practice.

The St. Pete court, America’s first and only public owned cancha is outdoors and at press time, the flip-flopping weather forecast is calling for a 48 percent chance of a shower early Saturday morning. Otherwise, the weather should be fine, with temperatures in the low 70s under partly sunny skies. That shower will not cause any rainout but might incur a slight delay. Organizers have the equipment to get the court ready in a timely matter after any amount of rain. The event is scheduled to start at 10am Saturday and might run into the evening hours. Action will continue Sunday at a time TBA.

You can follow the event by clicking the bracket link below at any time as the event unfolds. Scott King will be refereeing the event and keeping score on this phone using the Bracket HQ app. We do not know of any live feed of the event; however, someone might want to set something up themselves. I’ve had a few inquiries asking locally and across the country about it.

There are 3 groups of players with the winners advancing to the finals on Sunday. Several ex-pros playing include Tampa and Miami star back-courter Daniel, Adam from Bridgeport jai-alai, and Ty Wilson from Newport.

https://brackethq.com/b/bbucc/

Puryear Park Cancha Closed for Renovations Plus Tournament Bracket

Jeff ‘Laca’ Conway Blogs

Puryear Park Cancha Closed for Renovations Plus Tournament Bracket

Editors Note: This is our first story to be posted on Pelota Press in 4 months and it is no coincidence it had to be due to Hurricane Helene. I’ll have details and lots of photos later to explain. But first, a public notice that needs to go out:

America’s first and only public jai-alai court is closed for several days this week in preparation for the annual “Scott King” Sunshine City Jai-alai tournament scheduled for this weekend.

Workers are fixing the cancha’s damage from Hurricane Milton along with filling in the cracks and holes on the walls and floors from the brutal beating it takes with the millions of Matt Balls slamming on it (Belota and RG3 throws – not Magic Mike’s!).

On Thursday, the court walls will be painted with a fresh coat of green, covering up the white markings from the balls taping coming off and the faded paint.

The court is scheduled to be open on Friday as players from all over the county be able to practice for the weekend festivities that start at 10am Saturday.

The Pelota Press will have details later this week on the tournament.

Here is bracket so far:

https://brackethq.com/b/bbucc/