Miami Jai-Alai Fronton Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The historic venue is the new home of the World Jai-Alai League.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, the original home of the sport in the United States, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The fully refurbished arena with a 2,000-person capacity will now host matches for the World Jai-Alai League, which was previously played at Miami's Magic City Casino.

Why it matters

Jai-Alai is a sport with deep roots in Miami, and the return of the World Jai-Alai League to the historic fronton helps preserve the sport's legacy in the city where it first took hold in the 1920s. The league's founder sees the fronton as crucial to keeping jai-alai alive internationally.

The details

The World Jai-Alai League is now in its ninth season, and the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton will be the new home for its matches. The league features a total of 36 professional players, with six players on each of the six teams. Among the players is former University of Miami football player Chad Barnes, who says the sport requires a lot of running, lateral movement, and anticipating the ball.

  • The Miami Jai-Alai Fronton opened in the 1920s.
  • The World Jai-Alai League is now in its ninth season.
  • The opening scene of the Miami Vice episode 'Kill Shot' was filmed in the building back in the 1980s.
  • The Miami Jai-Alai Fronton is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Scott Savin

The founder of the World Jai-Alai League.

Chris Bueno

A second-generation jai-alai player who grew up playing on the original court at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton.

Chad Barnes

A former University of Miami football player who is now a professional jai-alai player in the World Jai-Alai League.

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What they’re saying

“This is it, like, we're the last professional Jai-Alai league in the United States. This has to work for Jai-Alai to stay alive internationally; otherwise, it's gonna shrink up, but we're the ones who are gonna forge ahead and hopefully make it an international sport.”

— Scott Savin, Founder, World Jai-Alai League (WSVN)

“The first time I ever threw the ball here I was 5 years old. My father played his whole professional career here. I was a ball boy here when I was 15 years old, so, for me, there's a lot of, like, sentimental value.”

— Chris Bueno, Second-generation jai-alai player (WSVN)

“There's a lot of running, a lot of lateral movement and anticipating the ball. That's really what it is; reacting is big in this sport.”

— Chad Barnes, Professional jai-alai player (WSVN)

What’s next

The World Jai-Alai League's first match at the newly renovated Miami Jai-Alai Fronton is scheduled for March 1, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of jai-alai to its original home in Miami is a testament to the sport's enduring legacy in the city. The 100-year-old fronton's renovation and its selection as the new venue for the World Jai-Alai League signals a renewed effort to preserve and grow the sport's popularity in the United States.