Miami, Fla. – May 1, 2020 – Magic City Jai-Alai launched its highly anticipated third season on Friday, May 1st under the confines of social distancing and enhanced safety protocol measures in place for players and support staff, and with no fans in the stands. As the first sport to come back since COVID-19 emergency closures were ordered in South Florida, fans can now catch the live action from a safe distance on YouTube’s “The Jai-Alai Channel” and wager on the games through watchandwager.com. The sport of jai-alai, considered the ‘world’s fastest sport’ with ball speeds of over 150mph, has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
“We’re the only live game in town and are pleased to kick off the third season of Magic City Jai-Alai without delay. We’ve gone to great effort to keep our players safe and healthy under the guidelines of a new normal, while still presenting an exciting game on the court, ” said Scott Savin, Chief Operating Officer of Magic City Casino. “This is a great opportunity for sports fans looking for a fast-paced and thrilling live game to discover the sport.”
The new enhanced safety protocols and social distancing measures in place at the fronton include taking players’ temperatures upon arrival, keeping athletes out of the locker rooms and providing them with stations and couches approximately 10 feet apart from each other. While on the court, the customary roll call has been omitted, players are required to wear gloves, and singles games are currently only being played. These are just a few of the measures in place meant to keep players and staff safe.
The Magic City Jai-Alai roster features a dynamic lineup of 22 professional jai-alai players, many University of Miami alum, who spotlight their talents at the venue’s fronton. Magic City Jai-Alai performances take place Thursdays through Sundays through November 30th (Thursdays and Fridays at noon and 4pm; Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at noon). Players will compete throughout the season for over $450,000 in performance-based prize money. The athletes are trained under the renowned jai-alai champion Juan Ramon Arrasate (Arra). The jai-alai fronton, partially constructed in Spain, measures 120′ in length and 40′ in width. The court’s glass walls on the front and back sides enable fans to see the pelota racing towards them at speeds of over 150mph. For more information, visit www.magiccitycasino.com.