West Palm Beach's Jai Alai Fronton Faces Redevelopment

The historic venue that once hosted Luciano Pavarotti may soon be transformed into a mixed-use center.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:19pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in warm tones depicting the blurred, atmospheric scene of an abandoned jai alai fronton, conveying a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time.The once-vibrant Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton now sits vacant, a relic of a bygone era of entertainment and gambling in Florida.West Palm Beach Today

The Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton, a once-popular venue for the fast-paced sport of jai alai, could be redeveloped into a mixed-use center featuring thousands of new homes. The 53-acre property in Mangonia Park, currently owned by boxing promoter Don King, has sat vacant for 32 years after the fronton closed in 1994 due to competing gambling options and a players' strike.

Why it matters

The potential redevelopment of the jai alai fronton site highlights the changing landscape of entertainment and gambling in South Florida. The fronton was once a glamorous betting destination, but its decline reflects the rise of other gambling options like the Florida lottery. The site's future also impacts the local community, as any new development would need to address the town's need for a larger water storage tank.

The details

The Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton first opened in 1955 and became a popular venue for the fast-paced sport, with players whipping the ball down the court at speeds over 150 mph. In the 1960s and 1970s, the fronton was a glamorous betting destination. After a fire in 1978, the building was rebuilt and reopened in 1980. The Rooney family, owners of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, bought the site in 1993, closed it, then briefly reopened it in 1994 before it finally closed for good that December.

  • The Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton opened in 1955.
  • A fire tore through the fronton in 1978, and it was rebuilt and reopened in 1980.
  • The Rooney family bought the site in 1993, closed it, then briefly reopened it in 1994 before it finally closed in December 1994.
  • The site has remained vacant for 32 years.

The players

Don King

A boxing promoter who owns the dilapidated jai alai property, which slipped into foreclosure in 2025 and could be sold at public auction on May 18. King is a longtime Palm Beach County resident who now lives in suburban Boca Raton.

The Rooney Family

Owners of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, they bought the jai alai site in 1993, closed it, then briefly reopened it in 1994 before it finally closed in December 1994.

Ken Metcalf

The Town Manager of Mangonia Park, where the jai alai fronton is located. He stated that nothing can be built on the 53-acre site until the town gets a new, larger water storage tank for clean drinking water.

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What they’re saying

“Nothing can be built on the 53-acre site at 1415 45th St. until the town gets a new, larger water storage tank for clean drinking water.”

— Ken Metcalf, Town Manager of Mangonia Park

What’s next

The dilapidated jai alai property owned by Don King could be sold at public auction on May 18, 2026, opening the door for potential redevelopment of the 53-acre site in Mangonia Park.

The takeaway

The potential redevelopment of the historic Palm Beach Jai Alai Fronton site reflects the changing entertainment and gambling landscape in South Florida. Once a glamorous betting destination, the venue's decline and long-term vacancy highlights how new gambling options like the Florida lottery have impacted traditional sports-based entertainment. Any future plans for the site will need to address the town's infrastructure needs, underscoring the complex challenges facing this valuable piece of land.