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

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Permalink Reply by Christian on October 29, 2009 at 12:32pm

then maybe jai alai will not have the future owners in its future plans.

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Permalink Reply by HOV on October 29, 2009 at 12:48pm

Hahaha....I love the way you think Christian, I hope it is all rumor but we'll see as it develops.

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Permalink Reply by HOV on October 29, 2009 at 12:52pm

Just got word from my source that its a wrap for Orlando Jai Alai, they will close on December 27th. Another sad day for the sport:(

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Permalink Reply by HOV on October 29, 2009 at 12:55pm

Join Fronton for all your breaking news, we had this before anyone. By only about 10 minutes;)

RIP Citrus!

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Permalink Reply by Jaialaiusa on October 29, 2009 at 2:49pm

I haven't heard anything different then what has already been posted.Someone said it's going to be part of the shopping center,which makes sense.

Their simulcasting business has been slipping and jai-alai dropped about 50% last year.It's just a sad situation for all concerned.

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Permalink Reply by DPOE on October 29, 2009 at 3:50pm

Sorry that there wont be a final season and final Citrus to wrap up a long history of jai alai in Orlando. I believe the first season was 1962.

Only 5 pari mutuels in the state of Florida do not have cardroom licenses and Orlando Jai Alai was one of them. The inability to see much hope in obtaining this contributed to this day.

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Permalink Reply by HOV on October 29, 2009 at 3:58pm

Yeah, I would agree with that DPO, the fact that they had no card room was the final nail in the coffin. But another fronton mismanaged IMO, nothing to get the fans excited on a day to day basis, very little promotion, no new ideas to draw in new fans, a constant "dumbing down" of the roster, the six point games, the attitude of the employees, I could go on forever - when are these frontons going to relise that they have one of the best games in the world. Don't be so ignorant and bring the sport into a new direction before the game is gone! I feel terrible for the employees and players............the job market in Orlando is already incredibily tough right now. Good luck to those people.

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Permalink Reply by DPOE on October 29, 2009 at 4:58pm

I would agree with that HOV. But even with the aspects you mention, if the owner had hope or could see poker/slots in the near future, this day wouldn't have occurred. Imagine the success of an Orlando poker room. Over 70 employees, outside of the roster, will have to find other employment.

47 YEARS ago there was virtually nothing in that area except for the fronton and Club Juana across the street. Alot of history...the greatest superstars at one time played on the Orlando court.

The business went out with a whimper and not a bang. Poof, its gone.

The tournament in Ocala toward the end of January I guess is something to look forward to.

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Permalink Reply by Jaialaiusa on October 29, 2009 at 6:01pm

I would like to see the Citrus Invitationl continue on,I think Dania would be the place to hold it.Definitely not Ocala,they have their tourney ,which is great.

Not only does the jai-alai world have this loss but Miami & Dania both will lose a simulcasting facility.I agree if Orlando would have had poker they could have hung on,my guess is they would have done something like 500,000 a month at least.

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Permalink Reply by DPOE on October 29, 2009 at 8:46pm

Jai Alai simulcasting in Orlando will most assuredly switch over to the Sanford Orlando Dog Track. This facility does not currently broadcast jai alai but I'm sure things will change.

I would believe that the upcoming Ocala Tournament in late January will look very much like a Citrus....it could be called The Citrus at Ocala. The creator, organizer and producer of the 20 year Citrus is involved in the Ocala jai alai operation, not Dania's.

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Permalink Reply by steve r on October 29, 2009 at 9:58pm

i hope to be at the ocala citrus, 1 way or another...

DPOE said:

Jai Alai simulcasting in Orlando will most assuredly switch over to the Sanford Orlando Dog Track. This facility does not currently broadcast jai alai but I'm sure things will change.

I would believe that the upcoming Ocala Tournament in late January will look very much like a Citrus....it could be called The Citrus at Ocala. The creator, organizer and producer of the 20 year Citrus is involved in the Ocala jai alai operation, not Dania's.

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Permalink Reply by Jaialaiusa on October 30, 2009 at 10:23am

I haven't read the present pari-mutuel laws but I can recall reading years ago that once you filed for pari-mutuel dates you had to fulfill that agreement,or were heavily fined.I guess that may be the case here.I understand the industry is and has been unregulated for years so maybe that rule in no longer in effect.

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