Fabulous JAM Arena Opens as Jai-alai Returns to Miami Jai-alai
February 16, 2026: Miami, Fla.: The World Jai alai League opened its doors to the public Friday night to a crowd estimated at between 150-200 people as jai-alai has returned to the original home of USA jai-alai. Miami Jai-alai Fronton is now called the JAM Arena (Jai-alai Miami) and is now officially 100 years old.
Formally known as Magic City Ja-alai, the new fronton uses the original front and side walls but has added a glass back wall near the serving line area. As reported earlier, the pace of play has slowed somewhat, but the big story is how nice the newly remodeled fronton looks. A multimillion-dollar investment has cleaned up the place what had looked like a war zone for decades. The building now holds 1,500 seats – all fixed up along with enhancements all around and including the lobby area.
Jai-alai was not the only activity to make place there, as a comedy show followed the jai-alai performance at 11pm. It is not known how many attended that. Tickets for the comedy show were $89 and $99. The next jai-alai performance is Friday February 20th at 7pm while the next comedy show of Matt Friend will be on Friday March 27th.
The only complaint we heard was from people sitting in the VIP area – basically the first 4 rows. Front row seats were $32 and included a “free” drink and “free” valet parking. The seats are below the stage with several large speakers on the stage blocking the view.
Special thanks to George Quinn and Bob Garby for supplying the photos. The Pelota Press was unable to attend as their parent company, The New York Times, did now allow travel reimbursement of $700 a night hotel rooms for 3-star hotels, or $450 for 2-star hotels with optional bed bugs located directly under Miami Airport’s flight path with unbearable noise 24 hours a day. Only successful actors, musicians, and drug dealers can afford living there, I guess.
