|
1898 |
|
Cuba |
Played for centuries in the Basque region, cesta punta is introduced
to the Americas in Cuba. |
|
1902 |
|
Havana, Cuba |
May 7, 1902 - First official jai-alai court in America opens. |
|
1904 |
|
St. Louis, MO |
First USA jai-alai fronton is built on DeBaliviere Avenue in
the Kingsbury section of St. Louis, during the 1904 World's Fair.
I have not found a direct connection with the World's Fair, only
that it was an attraction built at the same time. |
|
St. Louis, MO |
May 15, 1904 - St. Louis fronton opens. |
|
St. Louis, MO |
July, 1904 - Jai-alai operations end after two months. The fronton
later became the Winter Garden skating rink. |
|
1924 |
|
Hialeah, FL |
The first Miami fronton is built as part of the Hialeah complex |
|
1925 |
|
New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans fronton built. |
|
1926 |
|
Hialeah, FL |
September 18, 1926 - The original Miami fronton is destroyed
by the "Great Miami Hurricane", a massive Category
IV storm which devastated Miami and Miami Beach. |
|
Miami, FL |
Jai-Alai is first played professionally at the Miami fronton. |
|
1927 |
|
Chicago, IL |
December 22, 1927 - Chicago jai-alai begins at the Rainbo Fronton
(Rainbo Gardens). |
|
1938 |
|
New York, NY |
Jai-Alai is introduced at the Hippodrome, playing only one short
season. |
|
1947 |
|
Tijuana, Mexico |
Fronton Palacio opens. |
|
1953 |
|
Dania Beach, FL |
Dania Jai-Alai opens. |
|
Tampa, FL |
Tampa Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1955 |
|
West Palm Beach, FL |
West Palm Beach Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1959 |
|
Daytona Beach, FL |
Daytona Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1962 |
|
Orlando, FL |
January 6, 1962 - Orlando Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1968 |
|
|
Mandatory use of helmets begins following a frightening head
injury to Orbea, which effectively ended his career. |
|
Florida |
A players strike led to blacklisting of many players, most of
which returned to their homeland. Many were to return when Bridgeport
Jai-Alai opened in 1976. |
|
1971 |
|
Hartford, CT |
Connect General Assembly enacts Public Law #865, creating the
Commission of Special Revenue. Its primary responsibility was
the implementation of regulations governing pari-mutuel wagering
as a means of obtaining funds for the support of state government. |
|
Melbourne, FL |
Melbourne Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1973 |
|
Ocala, FL |
Ocala Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1974 |
|
Fort Pierce, FL |
May 29, 1974 - Fort Pierce Jai-Alai opens. |
|
Las Vegas, NV |
MGM Casino fronton opens. |
|
1976 |
|
Hartford, CT |
Hartford Jai-Alai opens as a unit of World Jai-Alai. |
|
Bridgeport, CT |
June 1, 1976 - Bridgeport Jai-Alai opens. |
|
Newport, RI |
Newport Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1977 |
|
Milford, CT |
May 5, 1977 - Milford Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1978 |
|
Reno, NV |
May 3, 1978 - MGM Reno fronton opens. |
|
Quincy, FL |
Big Bend Jai-Alai opens. |
|
1979 |
|
Newport, RI |
August 3, 1979 - Fastest jai-alai shot (188 mph) reported by
Jose Ramon Arietio at Newport Jai Alai. Although I seriously
doubt this number, it is still widely reported. |
|
Florida |
The Seminole tribe (Florida) initiates bingo operations, and
becomes the first Indian reservation gaming enterprise. |
|
1980 |
|
Reno, NV |
MGM Reno fronton closes. |
|
Las Vegas, NV |
November - MGM Grand Hotel fire. |
|
1981 |
|
Tulsa, OK |
May 27, 1981 - Roger Wheeler murder. |
|
1982 |
|
Miami, FL |
August 1, 1982 - John "Jack" Callahan murder |
|
1983 |
|
Hartford, CT |
May 28, 1983 - A labor dispute involving employees of Berenson's
Hartford Jai-Alai and the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Local
217 resulted in a strike action, closing the fronton until June
30. A total of 34 performances were lost due to this action. |
|
1986 |
|
Philippines |
Jai-alai games terminated following a game-fixing scandal. |
|
|
International Jai-Alai Players Association (IJAPA) formed. |
|
|
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). This Congressional Act affirmed
the right of tribes to conduct gaming on Indian lands, but made
it subject to tribal/state compact negotiations for certain types
of gaming. |
|
|
April 14, 1988 - STRIKE |
|
1990 |
|
Quincy, FL |
Big Bend Jai-Alai closes. |
|
Melbourne, FL |
February 3, 1990 - Melbourne Jai-Alai closes. |
|
1992 |
|
Ledyard, CT |
February 15, 1992 - Opening of Foxwoods Casino by the Mashantucket
Pequot Tribal Nation. |
|
Daytona Beach, FL |
Daytona Jai-Alai closes. |
|
West Palm Beach, FL |
December 30, 1994 - West Palm Deach Jai-Alai closes. |
|
1994 |
|
Philippines |
An attempt to resurrect the game was blocked when the Supreme
Court declared that gambling was against the national interest. |
|
1995 |
|
Bridgeport, CT |
April 30, 1995 - Bridgeport Jai-Alai closes. |
|
Hartford, CT |
September 5, 1995 - Hartford Jai-Alai closes. |
|
1996 |
|
Mexico City |
Fronton Mexico closes. |
|
Montville, CT |
October 12, 1996 - Opening of Mohegan Sun casino by the Mohegan
Tribal Nation. |
|
1998 |
|
Tampa, FL |
July 4, 1998 - Tampa Jai-Alai closes. |
|
Tijuana, Mexico |
Fronton Palacio closes. |
|
2001 |
|
Manila, P.I. |
June 22, 2001 - Jai-alai resumes in the Philippines, absent since
1986. Operated by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR). |
|
Milford, CT |
December 12, 2001 - Milford Jai-Alai closes. |
|
2003 |
|
Newport, CT |
July 13, 2003 - Newport Jai-Alai closes. |
|
2004 |
|
Florida |
Several major hurricanes cause local closings and do major damage
to several frontons. |
|
Florida |
November 2, 2004 - Amendment 4 to the State Constitution passes,
allowing slot machines at pari-mutuel venues in Broward and Miami-Dade
Counties (subject to local approval). |
|
2005 |
|
Jasper, FL |
September 17, 2005 - Hamilton Jai-Alai opens, first new fronton
in 27 years. |