In the United States, Jai Alai was a popular form of Parimutuel betting in the states of Florida and Connecticut as an alternative to horse racing, greyhound racing and harness racing with the cities of Dania Beach, Fort Pierce, Jasper, Casselberry, Miami and Reddick were among the state’s first six frontons.
The first American jai alai fronton opened in St. Louis, Missouri, around the time of the 1904 World’s Fair and in 1924, the land that is now Hialeah Race Course in Miami, Florida became the site of the first fronton in the state. With a record crowd of 15,502 in attendance on December 27, 1975, the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton was the largest in the world.
Is Miami Jai Alai Still Open
NOTE: As of 2022 Casino Miami will no longer be offering Jai Alai matches.
The jai alai fronton at Fort Pierce last held sessions in June 2019 and was scheduled to be torn down in 2022 and Miami Jai Alai last hosted sessions in January 2021 and there are also no plans for future matches.