The J Laca Museum is expanding for the 4th time to make room for a large collection of jai-alai memorabilia just obtained since visiting Dania for the final weekend there.
Additional walls are being extended and the Babe Ruth section getting relocated to make room for a whole bunch of new jai-alai stuff.
The crown jewel is the actual Hall of Champions plaque that was hanging in Tampa Jai-alai lobby. The huge handmade and crafted plaque features all the winners of Overall wins, Singles, Front Court Doubles, Back Court Doubles, and ITM % from their first season in 1953 to 1996 when the 76” x 50” wooden frame ran out of room. Many items were stashed in a storage area at Ft. Piece Jai-alai, but the property was recently sold and they are relocating their poker room to another smaller location. Other items from the vault are books that include all the programs from every year since 1953.
A large collection was obtained from Dania Jai-alai such as a scrapbook of it getting approved and built in 1952-1953, It includes hundreds of newspaper articles. Other items received are a 1982 Playboy magazine with the monthly playmate enjoying jai-alai – her favorite sport!
The museum is expected to be open this Friday afternoon.
Dania Jai-alai may have closed its doors last weekend with record crowds in their remodeled fronton last weekend, and the St. Pete Cancha is hoping to get their newly remodeled and expanded court broken in next weekend with about half the Magic City roster coming up to play, but that’s not stopping Matt DiDomizio from hosting another tournament this weekend.
An amazing 40-players are registered for the 3-day tournament set for the weekend of December 3-5th in Berlin, Connecticut. Virtually all the players except a very small handful appear to be from Connecticut and the greater Hartford area.
Check out the lineup roster shown here for Saturday and be sure to watch the event on Facebook live (CLICK HERE).
Dania Jai-alai staged it’s last performances this past weekend, likely bringing an end of full court, goatskin covered pelota’s, a full roster with parimutual wagering jai-alai in the United States. It was an emotional farewell for a sport that has endured a 120-year run in the United States..
Dania had run itself for nearly 70 of those years with about 6 seasons played in a condensed fronton after ripping out 9,000 seats to make room for slots machines and other amenities like a concert hall, poker room, buffet restaurant and more. Large enthusiastic crowds were in attendance Saturday and the for the closing performance on Sunday afternoon, November 28th.
The big event was actually on Saturday night when over 750 crammed into the 480 seat fronton. Walking from one end to the other end of the fronton was virtually impossible and without running into an former pro player. Yep, everyone was there from Arrigaga to Zulaica, and from Joey to Chimela to Steve “The Hook.” There was more socializing with people that had not seen others in decades and was more of a reunion and a celebration of life atmosphere then watching a good old NAJF event from decades ago. But that’s not to say nobody was watching. The play was excellent including a huge battle in game 8 singles featuring a most memorable volley between Arrieta and Erik. The performance concluded with two partidos to 15 points with the final game 10 between Zulaika and Ladutxe vs. Barandika and Leke. Zulaika and Ladutxe prevailed 15-14 by scoring the final 3 points. A long standing ovation greeted the players for an amazing performance and brought back memories of the great jai-alai days. Fans were into, including one fan that was out of control and cheering on Ladutxe who had to talk to him before and after the match. That fan likely won on a $2 bet to win – of course the only wager available in the two post game.
Sunday was the final performance and the crowd size was about 300 or so people. The players families and children were allowed on the court and ceremonies took place after game 5 both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. It was truly an emotional experience. Players jerseys were handed out to fans as well as an autographed photo of the final Dania roster.
Benny once again stressed “never say never” and has vowed to do everything possible to bring back jai-alai to the Dania Palace. But it likely won’t be a full roster and rather sports betting can be in the picture, Magic City as jumped on that already with 3 states now offering jai-alai wagering. That adventure has been a costly one to date as Magic City will open next winter as the only fronton with jai-alai action left.
A decoupling agreement in Florida had been approved by the legislators along with sports betting to be run by the Seminole Tribe but was recently rejected by a federal judge. It is unclear at this time if the decoupling part will be thrown out that allows pari-mutuals with jai-alai licenses to be able to continue running card games without staging ja-alai games. Already Miami, Ft. Pierce, Ocala have elected to.
Attached is a spreadsheet of the contributions and expenses through 10/01/2021 and the Venmo Qrcode to send funds.
We need people to dig down deep and contribute to this incredible renovation we have embarked upon.
I will provide updates periodically to keep things transparent.
Here is where we stand on the funds.
Lower section in red is projected expenses remaining.
All bills for current items in place are paid leaving a deficit of ($1673.50)
Parks department provided the rubber padding for the lower chopa. We have the material on hand
We need Extra front wall pads to protect fencing from errant throws $ 450-900 ( remnant – full price) the new fencing is won’t hold the impact of the ball
~ $4608.50-5000.00 more should complete what is needed.
Regards,
Scott King
Scott King Contracting, Inc. – CGC 1520251 – (813) 833-5592 – scott@scottkingbuiltit.com – www.scottkingbuiltit.com
Behind the Scenes at Dania jai-alai (To enlarge any small picture – right click it and open in new tab)
As Dania jai-alai completes its 69th and final season, a lot of people are making trips to say goodbye to an era. Crowds have been much larger and a lot more noisier with some faces that many have not seen in decades making appearances.
This week will be the last of Dania jai-alai, and goat-skin jai-alai as we have known it. The fronton will be closed for Thanksgiving, then open for the final weekend. There will be a 7pm Friday night performance, followed by a big twin-bill on Saturday and then the final performance on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1pm. Saturday night will be the big night as hundreds of jai-alai “celebrities” will be there including former Dania star Joey. Awards will be giving out. Gorbachev will tear down that mini red wall that has blocked over a couple hundred seats that was installed to give the players an expanded locker room during COVID-19. A full house of 500 people will be expected. This will be the largest crowd at jai-alai since Calder’s debut performance that drew about 600 people three years ago.
Watching in person is a much better experience than watching it on Dania’s grainy video. These guys are amazing athletes and watching from every view possible angle at the fronton gives it a more prospective. We were able to spend time up in the broadcast booth with legendary announcer “Big Dave” Lemmon and ESPN’s Dave LaMont. Then we were able to visit the players cage in between games with several players from Magic City and players manager Arra. Then it was a visit above the players cage for another amazing view of the game. Finally, we all visited the locker room, where Magic City players were able to meet several Dania players for the first time.
Our trip included a visit to North Miami where I was able to play against Calder players Giddy-up and Post Time, former Newport player Jai-a-Lou and Ralph Holst. Ralph has played since the late 1970s there and at Orbea’s amateur court. It’s been an amazing story for him, as he has just survived lung cancer two years ago and has been working his way back slowing graduating to throwing the ball around.
We look forward to seeing everybody this weekend and the shutterbug will be clicking away.
Is this really the end of jai-alai? That’s the big question everyone is asking.
Benny has been dropping hints that “never say never”. We do know that the fronton will stay in place. The seats, the big red wall, signs and everything else will remain in place till a final decision is made. Could partidos be the next thing? Sports betting? But the sports betting compact has been vetoed by a judge. Ironically, that suit was filed by the Magic City owners. An appeal is coming, which will prolong it. It is also not known at this time if this veto – which also strikes down expanded gambling on live games such as roulette and craps – will halt the decoupling of jai-alai. There are many out there that want jai-alai to resume. The Argentinian owners really do like jai-alai, want jai-alai action going to give them something different than any other casino – but not at a huge loss – some estimate at well over a million dollars a year. It is going to be hard to imagine if pari-mutual wagering will ever return there giving the high player cost and low handles.
Coming next week…………
Why New Jersey is responsible for Jai-alai’s decoupling
The Tribes hypocritical ad campaign to stop a referendum for more sports betting
The Puryear Park Expansion has been delayed once again. The final step to completion is the resurfacing of the newly expanded cancha but the supplies did not arrive in time and the project is hold. Work was supposed to begin Monday of this week, closing the court for the week of Thanksgiving, but those plans are out the door.
Meanwhile, the NJAA contracting staff continues to add upgrades to the court. Now, a sturdy red “choppa” has been added above the black pad area in the front court. With this structure now in place, there is no question at all if the ball was too low or not.
We will keep you posted on any future details, which will include a second appearance by the Magic City gang scheduled for December 11-12th as soon as court construction plans become clearer.
In about two weeks from now, a 70-year institution will be coming to an end. For the past 46 of those years, I was there in attendance like many others reading this. Dania jai-alai is coming to an end. A decoupling law was passed by legislators earlier this year allows parimututuals like them to close up shop while keep the lucrative slot machines and poker room going.
That Sunday after Thanksgiving is going to be a sad day. Dania Jai-alai’s last performance will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 28th. Although other full court, granite-based front wall frontons in Miami, Orlando, Ocala are still standing, they are not expected to reopen again. Ft. Pierce has been sold and is about to be torn down as owners are relocating the poker room to a much smaller location. No announcements have been made by the frontons, but the Dania closing will likely be the final time you will see a goat skin ball thrown against a granite wall that you can place a parimutual bet on. Jai-alai outlasted the Ringling Brothers Circus, but it’s not going to outlive the Rolling Stones or slot machines.
A few thoughts here.
The end of traditional jai-alai is coming on the last day of the long Thanksgiving break when most people have already made plans to be with family. It is the most traveled time in the United States with nearly 100 million American’s expected to hit the road. Surprisingly, Dania Casino has yet to really make any official announcement on their website. They only confirmed the closing after the business editor of a Ft. Lauderdale newspaper was tipped off about a story in the Pelota Press and contacted us for clarification. The writer had previously been blown off by Dania ownership for details, but on follow up calls they fessed up. That business editor had no clue about jai-alai. Knew nothing about the sport. I had to explain for 70 minutes the history of jai-alai and he was blown away.
Dania really did nothing to market the sport. The word “jai-alai” was pulled off the building years ago. They basically just opened their doors and said “hello, we are here”. I live four hours away, but the only marketing I saw was a billboard or two on the busy highways when they reopened the place after a multimillion dollar renovation. It’s a shame. The new court looks beautiful with the blue walls. A million dollar glass wall which was supposed to separate jai-alai from the casino never materialized and is now a big red sheet of plywood that likely will come down, unless they make the jai-alai portion an entertainment stage or something. They do have one upstairs, but that consists of about 900 chairs and a portable stage and a few round tables up in the front with cocktail service. I saw the best concert in my life there a few years ago when Styx took the stage. I was literally inches away from Tommy Shaw and company. A sports betting lounge could be a possibility, but with Magic City’s lawsuit and another one fighting off-site gambling via the phone could put a hold on that.
The Jai-alai action was great, the place was clean and enjoyable. But nothing was like in the old days when you stepped into a huge palace as it was called. Dania drew crowds back in the day that dwarfed the Florida Marlins crowds at Joe Robbie Stadium. A jai-alai bar, restaurants, buffets, a huge git shop and more. The roar of the crowd. Parking lots were packed. Looking for the big jai-alai sign at US 1 and Dania Beach Boulevard when there was no MapQuest or other electronic means and you knew where to turn.
Entering the building and that bulletproof glass panel is awaiting you with the claim a jai-alai pelota penetrated it.
This will likely be the end of trips to Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant. This institution opened shortly after Dania Jai-alai did. The huge menu with huge portions and then the ice cream complete with the kitchen sink. This is an absolute must to visit. And a Giancarlo Stanton homer away is Grandpa’s Cafe, an amazing breakfast and lunch place.
No more visits to Ft. Lauderdale Beach where the classic 1960 film “Where the Boys Are” made the beach as America’s official spring break headquarters with hundreds of thousands heading there every spring. No more drives along the beach and intercoastal checking out the yachts as Ft. Lauderdale is the yacht capital of the world.
No more visits to Casa D’Angelo’s in Ft. Lauderdale, one of the best Italian restaurants south of New York City. Chicken you could cut with a fork.
No more midnight visits to Lester’s diner and its 50s decor. Holy shit, this place is good. I miss those good old diners I grew up in Connecticut with but this one in Ft. Lauderdale is huge and always packed with hundreds of people.
All that plus the Guitar Hotel now.
Enough of this.
I wonder if Elon Musk will let me convert my Tesla from Long Range Plus to Normal Range? I won’t be needing it anymore.
The St. Pete Cancha is making great progress as its near completion. America’s first public court is going to be a great amateur court when competed.
New logos were painted on the side walls over the weekend of 11/6 along with a red metal frame around the front wall. During last week, most of the netting has been completed to protect the court from wild throws. However, parts of it is a work in progress. The overhang netting at the front part of the court is still an issue, as deep looping reverse throws often get halted in action after hitting the overhead netting. It was improved over the weekend, but is still not ideal. Some have compared it to Calder Jai-alai, where high throws hit the top ceiling. But again, it’s a work in progress.
The last remaining items include a complete overhaul of the flooring. The original job was awarded to a contractor and work was supposed to start nearly a month ago. Unfortunately, the company that won the biding process went out of business! A new process of getting at least 3 competitive bids was held and we are awaiting an update on that process.
Painting of Logos 11-7-21
Painting of Logos 11-7-21
Painting of Logos 11-7-21
Painting of Logos 11-7-21
View from park walkway 10/20/21
Dots on new side wall from someone practicing while paint was wet 10/20/21
Front to back view 10/20/21
Back to front view 10/20/21
Wall by parking lot 10/20/21
10/15/21 Side View of clearcoating
10/15/21 Clearcoat added to side, front, and back walls.
10/14/21 Added netting on back wall… Still to be tied down but up to block most errant throws
.10/14/21 Seal coated the side wall on other side
09/23/21 Slab Is In!
Ready to lay new slab 09/15/21
Beginning removing Slab Floor preparing for resurfacing 09/07
Beginning removing slab floor preparing for resurfacing 09/07
Front Fencing Up 09/04
Moving things off court after front fencing. 09/04
Side netting just put up today 09/04
Another view of side netting 09/04
End of August 2021. As you can see from the photos. The major expansion work for America’s first and only public jai-alai court continues.
Earlier this week, several NJAA players and even our Magic City star were out there busting their butt’s assembling the wall extension what was added to the old court about 5 years ago. This addition now makes the entire side wall at least 20 feet high, a drastic difference and double what the court originally had.
The walls are coming along fine. They have been filled with cement and smoothed out – another huge improvement to the court. The huge fencing and netting project has also commenced as you can see in the photos with the huge black metal poles in place.
The next project involves the flooring. This will begin in early September and involves removing and replacing some of the slabs which are badly cracked. This phase is expected to take about a month.
Next to the court will be a soccer area which will comprise of two of the practice racquetball courts on the other side of the front wall. One of the original 3 has been torn down and is now part of the new St. Pete Cancha. The new length of the court will be close to 105 feet long – bringing it close to Matt’s in Connecticut and other amateur courts around the world.
The goal is to have the court ready by Halloween time.
A big grand opening event will be scheduled at some point – we would like to give at least 30 days’ notice to people so they can plan it with visitors expected from Connecticut, south Florida and perhaps from Spain like Calzacorta did for our original grand opening in April 2008.
There will be a resumption to the Magic City vs. NJAA event also, in which several players from Magic City come up to play on the court in a two-day event wrapped around Tampa’s huge Gasparilla event. The event draws upwards of 400,000 people, involving hundreds of boats and a long several mile long parade all involving a pirate invasion that is the 3rd largest parade in the United States. And yes, El Barba made a good looking pirate here a couple years ago! A date on the tournament will be announced later this fall.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by the owners of Magic City Casino and the Bonita Springs Poker Room to stop the compact that allows the tribe to operate sports betting.
Last April, an agreement was reached between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and tribal leaders giving the tribe the rights operate sports betting using a “hub – and – spoke” sports betting plan that will allow gamblers throughout the state to place bets online with the bets being run through computer servers on tribal property. Lawmakers ratified it in May in a special legislative session. The exact compact wording says bets made anywhere in the state of Florida using a mobile app or other electronic devices shall be deemed to be exclusively conducted by the tribe.
Magic City had argued that allowing people to place sports bets while off tribal property would violate federal laws and that online sports betting controlled by the tribe will cannibalize their customer bases and cause pari-mutuels to lose money. The State countered that they did not have a legal standing to challenge the compact because they had not shown they would be harmed. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor agreed in a 20-page ruling Monday. “The parimutuals lack standing to sue the governor or the secretary because their actions are not fairly traceable to any alleged harm. In addition, the requested declaratory and injunctive relief would provide no legal or practical redress to the pari-mutuels’ injuries”.
The tribe will be paying billions of dollars to the state because of sports betting and other parts of the compact like offering “real” roulette and craps. They had totally stopped making payments a few years ago because the parimutuals were offering “banked” games of poker and other games to skirt the tribe’s exclusivity of games similar to that.
There are two other federal lawsuits floating out there challenging the compact. The Havenick family, which has owned Magic City (formally Fagler Dog Track) and the Bonita Springs track for over 50 years, also filed lawsuit in Washington DC naming the U.S. Department of the Interior and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland as defendants. Without taking any action this summer, the Interior Department, which oversees Indian gambling issues, allowed the compact to go into effect. Lawyers for Haaland and her agency filed a motion last week asking a Federal judge to reject that lawsuit.
The other lawsuit involves two prominent South Florida businessmen and the anti-gambling organization “No Casino’s”, who have filed a sperate lawsuit in Washington, D.C. That hearing will be heard early next month.
Most experts have said Magic City really didn’t have a chance winning the lawsuit, and even if they did, good luck enforcing the tribe to do anything on their property. It seems they have more power than the IRS.
It’s also odd that Magic City went this route by suing the state as the agreement will allow the tribe to work with several parimutual facilities and be able to operate sport betting under this “hub -and – spoke” arrangement and collect a commission of 55% of the profits. One must wonder if the tribe will want anything to do with Magic City. Magic City is clearly the most successful racino in the area with very successful slot machine revenues. There are several competitors just a Giancarlo Staton homerun away. It is not known yet how successful sports betting will be and how many people it will bring into the casinos outside the Hard Rock in Hollywood and Tampa.
The big kahuna is the mobile sports betting. The convenience of opening an account and being able to pull a cellphone out of your pocket and place a bet 24 hours a day on any sporting event in the world is mind boggling. How this will effect slot machine betting is unknown and likely minimal. States that allow mobile sports betting, such as the state that started the whole thing – New Jersey – have enjoyed huge revenues compared to the starts that allow sports betting without the mobile betting feature. A gambler would not have to enter the casino to place a bet on a sporting event.
Another factor that makes one wonder why Magic City tried to stop the compact is the fact they are banking their future of jai-alai on sports betting. They now run a H2H schedule, which are exciting partidos – three days a week at 5pm. You bet on a winning team in a two team partido using odds similar to a football bet. Already two states allow it, with seven more expected this year alone. If the Tribe does hold the rights to pick who they want as partners and Magic City wants Florida to add jai-alai as a sport to bet on, there might be some reluctance. Magic City has been phasing out parimutual wagering performances and only runs 3 of them a week now – on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturday’s at 1:30pm. Only retirees in a rocking chair that don’t care about college football can appreciate those hours. Florida is one of two states that know anything about jai-alai with Connecticut obviously the other one. Not having Florida to offer jai-alai sports betting would be a big blow to their plans. Let’s hope this is not the case and jai-alai sports betting will be allowed in the state eventually.
The Hard Rock has not started the sports betting yet, even though they were allowed to open it October 15th. It is unknown why they have not started – whether it takes more time to get it set up,, or perhaps the pending lawsuits – or a combination of both.
