LIVING THE JAI LIFE VOL 9: Jai-Alai in The United States: 1976-1977 Jai-Alai Expands to Connecticut and Rhode Island
- May 28, 2025
- World Jai-Alai League
Jai-Alai's huge, local success remained limited to Florida through the 1970's. There had always been interest shown by companies and potential investors in other States but powerful anti-gaming interests and the equally powerful Greyhound and Thoroughbred lobbies blocked many State Legislatures from even considering adding Jai-Alai to approved parimutuels. As Jai-Alai dates were fixed in Florida by statute, taking advantage of the State's mild weather in Winter months expansion was logical for Northern States and Summer dates.
In 1971 The Connecticut General Assembly passed "Public Act 71-865" which approved parimutuel wagering as well as a State Lottery for the purpose of increasing tax revenue in order to maintain the State's lack of a State Income Tax. Though neither Jai-Alai nor Greyhound racing was specifically mentioned both were subsequently approved in 1972 and were to be governed by the State Division of Special Revenue. Licenses were awarded and Jai-Alai frontons would be built and subsequently open in Hartford (May 20th, 1976), Bridgeport (June 1st, 1976) and Milford (May 5th, 1977).
The State of Rhode Island initially approved parimutuel racing on May 18th 1934 and Greyhound racing had been the only parimutuel operating until 1976. Arthur W. Silvester Sr., a native of Weston, Massachusetts had successfully operated Palm Beach Jai-Alai, won approval for a Jai-Alai Fronton "Concept" in a Newport City Referendum held on July 10th, 1973. The building had a 7,000-person capacity and Silvester was expecting a sellout crowd in the early days. But on the day of the grand opening, June 10th, 1976, a total of 2,700 people turned out and there was a total wager of just over $51,000, the Daily News reported at the time. Newport Jai-Alai would build a gradual fan base and serve as the Northern sister facility for the Sylvester's Palm Beach Fronton.
Hartford Jai-Alai (Circa 1976) was the first Connecticut Fronton to open. It was built and operated as World Jai-Alai's 6th Fronton. Original rosters would be comprised of a mix of players from Tampa and Miami. The only time Joey and Bolivar would compete as part of the same roster was at Hartford in 1977. L. Stanley “Buddy” Berenson purchased the Fronton from World Jai-Alai in the Spring of 1982 and it was operated as a family business through its closure in 1995.
Bridgeport Jai-Alai (Circa 1990) was owned and operated by A. Robert Zeff, a Detroit Civil Attorney with other varied business interests. The first rosters at Bridgeport were comprised primarily of the former Stars of Florida who had been locked-out in 1968. With the current top stars of the Miami and Tampa rosters playing just to one-hour to the North in Hartford the strategy of bringing these greats, most of whom were either in the middle or towards the end of their prime playing years insured that Connecticut would feature the best Jai-Alai play in the United States in its inaugural season. Bridgeport Jai Alai held its last Jai Alai performance on April 30, 1995, and was subsequently converted to a greyhound racing facility.
Milford Jai-Alai (Circa 2002 - Post Closing). Milford Jai-Alai was founded and operated by "The Saturday Corporation" from its opening in 1977 to1982 and served as a Northern sister-facility for Dania Jai-Alai. In 1979 it was recognized by the American Institute of Architect's for a Design Award. It was sold to Connecticut Jai-Alai, Inc. in 1982 and ceased operations in 2001.
Newport Jai-Alai (Opening Day, June 1976). Was operated seasonally by the Sylvester family and was the last of the "Northeast" Frontons to close in 2003. Though he was known as a top young player at Orlando Jai-Alai and achieved his "No.1" World Ranking at Miami Jai-Alai, Inaki Osa a/k/a "Goikoetxea" made his American Professional Debut at Newport Jai-Alai in 1997.
