Jai alai defies extinction in Miami with new twists to the classic sport: 'Like racquetball on steroids'

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Once upon a time, jai alai was just as popular in the United States as horse racing and greyhound racing, where the average fan could walk into a casino, place a bet on a match and watch in real-time.

Jai alai, a sport mostly played in Spain, France and other Latin American countries, made its way to the U.S. in 1904 at the World’s Fair in St. Louis and expanded across the country to several cities in Florida up to Connecticut and Rhode Island and as far west as Las Vegas.

While jai alai has been mentioned in pop culture in movies like "Black Mass," TV shows like "The Simpsons" and video games like "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," the sport is down to one fronton, located at the Magic City Casino in Miami also known as the "Yankee Stadium of jai alai."

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General view of some equipment needed for a jai alai game in Tampa, Florida in November 1989. (Scott Halleran/Allsport)

However, reports of the sport’s death appear to be premature.

Magic City Jai-Alai has emerged as the destination for top-flight jai alai athletes from across the U.S.,  Spain, the Philippines, France and Mexico. While the head-to-head and doubles season is currently ongoing, the league is also set to bring back Battle Court for its second season. Four teams, the Cesta Cyclones, Chula Chargers, Rebote Renegades and Wall Warriors will compete in a nine-week season starting Sept. 23 and play singles and doubles matches, which will culminate on Nov. 18.

For the uninitiated, jai alai may sound like the new pro sports league on the block akin to that of ultimate or cornhole. However, it’s one of the oldest sports in world – created