I hear Orlando Jai Alai is getting ready to be sold.............

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Permalink Reply by Jim on November 4, 2009 at 12:05pm

Thanks, Bill. Your points are great, too. I mean, sure, Dania could host a Citrus type of tourney, and it would go over well. The same fans that attended Orlando's Citrus would show up and we'd see a great crowd. And, as you said, what would REALLY be good would be to see the pools, given the simulcasting allowed on this. In order to draw that many fans, and keep them, it still has to be a two day event at night only. Look how great it worked at Orlando the past two years. And frankly, to look at poker being a cure-all really is a shame. It truly shows how without something else to spend money on, jai alai can not survive. And once the poker boon dies down, what next?

Jaialaiusa said:

Jim other than not having a restaurant,what other reasons do you think Dania cannot host the Citrus.In time if things go right and they pass a lower tax rate something may happen,Dania will have at least two restaurants,a hotel etc..Call it vision,but I'm thinking down the road what will happen.

I'm concerned that O.B.S. spent 3 1/2 million to put in one of those synthetic tracks,and my big question is WHY? If they decide to run a one day quarter horse meet,they can close Ocala.They must have something in mind,to spend that kind of money.

In my opinion,Dania by far has the best chance of surviving and keeping the sport alive.When Miami/Dania have these intercity tournaments they handle roughly 15,000 on the high end and less most games.That won't cut it,Ocala would handle much much less.

Let's not forget they can place bets in Spain,France and many other parts of the world through the Internet on the Citrus.I can see Europe betting if they would send players and I think they would.Jai-Alai for the bettor isn't easy to hit,and with the high risk low reward factor the betting will only get worse,which has been the trend for 15 years.

These pools must go way up and the bettor will return if they can win a substantial amount of money,especially if it would be life changing.

P.S. Dania has that big sports room and if they wanted they could set up a nice buffet for the Citrus,the view of the court would be only visible to the railbirds.The tourists could have an early dinner and then go sit downstairs.Also they could open the cafeteria for that weekend,I think it's intact except for the tables and chairs,but not 100% sure..

Another thought,who would run the Citrus,Santi Echaniz will not be around forever,and nobody else at Ocala knows anything about the game..

Ocala in 2008 dropped all ads of every type and never ran one,even the billboards ,one on 441 and the other on I-75 promote poker.In 2009 Ocala did run two ads that I know for sure in the Gainesville sun,and maybe a couple in the Ocala Star Banner,but that was it,and I think the money came from the poker fund,at the cost of the players.

Maybe nothing will happen,we'll just have to wait and see.Anyways it's always interesting reading your views and most make sense.You seem to be business savvy.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on November 4, 2009 at 12:09pm

Ditto. Your comments are always right on, too. I like Derby Lane, too! I went there a while back and even before it was changed to add poker it was nice. Now it's even nicer.

The problem with jai alai is that it can not survive any longer on its own. It needs simulcasting, poker, slots, whatever, and all that just STILL has not happened anywhere, though it was supposed to happen years ago. Dania and Miami are stalled out...kind of in limbo...saying...well, what should we do next? Time will tell.

HOV said:

Great comments as usual Jim. I love your opinion on the Orlando media, it is so very true.

I gotta say Derby Lane is a class operation. It is clean and has an awesome poker room and several simucasting areas with several flat HD big screen TVs showing jai alai. I have been to Samford and it is pretty bad, comparable to the old Tampa dog track.

I'm sad for the Orlando fans.....I have been going less and less over the past five years, last year I was there only for the Citrus. I blame the lack of promotion, the continuing "dumbing down of the roster", and mismanagement as the downfall of Orlando.

Alot of people say they can't blame Soper for selling after years of losing 1/4 million year after year. Well, when he first started losing money why didn't he take action? What kind of business man is this? Just sit back and let the business die or take steps to make sure it is a success? Its crazy the mentality....obviously a very wealthy man who could care less. I have never heard nothing but wonderful things about Mrs. Calder, particularly from my President Maurice, he says she had a true love for the game.

Jim said:

How typical of the media to ONLY show up at Orlando Jai Alai as soon as they here the place was sold and is closing. All the news and tv media ignore the place thoroughly, and have for a decades, until it closes. So typical. Kiss off.

It looks like the Sanford Orlando Kennel Club will take over all simulcasting, and from what I've heard, the place is not in great shape...then again, what parimutuel facility in Florida is truly in good shape, other than some of the horse tracks, and maybe Pompano, thanks to their slot casino (which by the way is a total rip-off).

Dania can't properly host the Citrus. Can you imagine all those fans trying to get something to eat? They don't even have a restaurant! Just a tiny cafe near the Poker room. Ocala handled the fans very well last year, and with no promotion at all, got a very good crowd on Friday night, but much less of a crowd on Saturday. I will agree, the Ocala fans DO NOT support jai alai very much, in terms of wagering. I call them a "quiniela crowd." Every performance I saw, the quiniela pool was more than the tri...very lopsided, actually. Miami could host the Citrus...but the place is dreadful looking and has a negative connotation for evening jai alai.

I am saddened at the Orlando closure, but not even remotely suprised...no one should be. Every time I went in there in the past several years, I said to myself, "how can they make money?" I just hope Ocala will host the tournament, in the EXACT format as last year (but with 14 games on both nights), and give us all something to really look forward to and support!

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Permalink Reply by DPOE on November 4, 2009 at 7:22pm

Talking about the Citrus being held at Dania is a waste of your time. Any future tournament with the name CITRUS to it will only now be held at Ocala, like it or not. This doesn't by any means prevent Miami or Dania from putting on a tournament of their choosing at any time....which I hope they do.

I also hope that I saved you some time.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on November 4, 2009 at 11:20pm

Well, I've read your posts on this, DPOE, and I agree, and always have never understood--just like you've said now and before--exactly WHY Dania and Miami won't stage a duplicate of the Citrus, but of course, call it something else, just like what we saw at Ocala las year, billed as the WORLD SERIES OF JAI ALAI. The Dania-Miami challenge has no thrill at all. It's the same players we see online all the time anyway, the lack of straight point scoring in that event produced little excitement nor any long games. The Citrus format the past 2 years was outstanding. But it all comes down to the question of WHY the big two frontons won't stage a mega tourney. I mean, do us all a favor and actually CHARGE $10.00 per ticket, and you know we don't care...will pay it!!! Use the extra money to fund your tourney, and BAM, a nice prize fund and some mega excitement, proper promotion, and two thousand people show up. Hello? This is so simple. And invite at least one team from overseas...go out on a limb...let's see it happen. Dania and Miami really have done nothing different in a decade.

DPOE said:

Talking about the Citrus being held at Dania is a waste of your time. Any future tournament with the name CITRUS to it will only now be held at Ocala, like it or not. This doesn't by any means prevent Miami or Dania from putting on a tournament of their choosing at any time....which I hope they do.

I also hope that I saved you some time.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian on November 5, 2009 at 7:42am

can someone fu***ing relay these post's to dania and miami so they can see what that gotta do sorry about the curse word but it just gets my blood boiling how they just continue to slip up

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Permalink Reply by Dpo on November 6, 2009 at 6:23am

Talking with reps at Seminole County next week - see what they can shed on this property

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Permalink Reply by HOV on November 7, 2009 at 11:28am

Very cool Dpoe, keep us updated:)

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Permalink Reply by korythekid on November 9, 2009 at 9:18pm

To have the Citrus Jai alai tourney at Ocala is fine , than next year at Hamilton, and the year after DPOE's backyard.


DPOE said:

If the Citrus was to live on...Ocala would be the place to have it. This was the brainchild of one single person and that person is not...or I think ever been...on Dania's payroll. Not to piss anyone off but 20 years ago anyone at Dania (or anwhere else) could've created a Citrus tournament. If Dania wants to put on a tournament - thats wonderful but its not the Citrus. Why not run the Kentucky Derby in Montana?

I'm not on the inside of Dania's staff and I'm positive jaialaiusa is either - however lets not believe that Marty F is at the helm at Dania and the reason we are seeing all of these positive changes.

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Permalink Reply by korythekid on November 9, 2009 at 10:02pm

the Citrus being played in Ocala. well lets see where was the first super bowl, and how many different locals have hosted The superbowl, the olympics its not about the originator , its about making the best business decision for the sport. $$$$$$$ ---exposure---and the ability to due justice to then name The Citrus. DPOE if you believe Ocala is the best choice, dude wake up and smell the cofffee .
Its not a turf war. Ocala will be a QUINELLA CONSOLATION HEAVEN WITH IN 1 TO 2 YEARS, SAFE TO SAY

korythekid said:

To have the Citrus Jai alai tourney at Ocala is fine , than next year at Hamilton, and the year after DPOE's backyard.
DPOE said:

If the Citrus was to live on...Ocala would be the place to have it. This was the brainchild of one single person and that person is not...or I think ever been...on Dania's payroll. Not to piss anyone off but 20 years ago anyone at Dania (or anwhere else) could've created a Citrus tournament. If Dania wants to put on a tournament - thats wonderful but its not the Citrus. Why not run the Kentucky Derby in Montana?

I'm not on the inside of Dania's staff and I'm positive jaialaiusa is either - however lets not believe that Marty F is at the helm at Dania and the reason we are seeing all of these positive changes.

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Permalink Reply by DPOE on November 10, 2009 at 6:51am

Coffee smells good and if a tournament with the name Citrus will be held .......once Orlando closes...it will be held at Ocala. Can I have a doughnut with that coffee?

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Permalink Reply by Jody C. on November 10, 2009 at 9:37am

Dont understand youre logic Kory. If there is a tournament to be played regarding jai alai, who cares where it will be held. The true fans are the ones who will be there, like at Orlando. Everyone knows the situations on the surface at the 5 remaining frontons, including Ocala. So, if Santi has more time to spend there great, let him do it. He certainly kept the Citrus going at Orlando for many years after Soper would have liked to keep jai alai going.

Granted Miami and Dania are the big 2, let them do there own stuff, let Santi do his stuff too, the more the merrier.




korythekid said:

the Citrus being played in Ocala. well lets see where was the first super bowl, and how many different locals have hosted The superbowl, the olympics its not about the originator , its about making the best business decision for the sport. $$$$$$$ ---exposure---and the ability to due justice to then name The Citrus. DPOE if you believe Ocala is the best choice, dude wake up and smell the cofffee .
Its not a turf war. Ocala will be a QUINELLA CONSOLATION HEAVEN WITH IN 1 TO 2 YEARS, SAFE TO SAY

korythekid said:

To have the Citrus Jai alai tourney at Ocala is fine , than next year at Hamilton, and the year after DPOE's backyard.
DPOE said:

If the Citrus was to live on...Ocala would be the place to have it. This was the brainchild of one single person and that person is not...or I think ever been...on Dania's payroll. Not to piss anyone off but 20 years ago anyone at Dania (or anwhere else) could've created a Citrus tournament. If Dania wants to put on a tournament - thats wonderful but its not the Citrus. Why not run the Kentucky Derby in Montana?

I'm not on the inside of Dania's staff and I'm positive jaialaiusa is either - however lets not believe that Marty F is at the helm at Dania and the reason we are seeing all of these positive changes.

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Permalink Reply by carl ramone on November 10, 2009 at 4:37pm

Jai-Alai in the United States needs a spark. Will there be a day when Hamilton is the only surviving fronton?
I wish Santi would think about branching the citrus out more. it will always be Santi Echaniz's " The Citrus ". The Orlando fronton has hosted it's last Citrus. Now is the time to say O.K.we are gonna try something new. I would think players would come over here if there was enough exposure especially back to their family and friends in spain...I think the Citrus is a great vehicle to build upon and it needs to be put on a larger stage. just a fans opinion...

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