AI's response to "who would invest in Jai Alai Posted on July 25, 2025 at 03:20:05 PM by ctshermaneos
Celebrities and High-Profile Athletes: These individuals often have a personal connection to the sport (like Miami Heat star Udonis Haslem who heard stories of the fronton being packed with fans from his father), grew up in areas where it was popular, and see its potential for a resurgence. Examples include:
Pitbull: The Grammy Award-winning artist and entrepreneur has become an equity owner in the World Jai-Alai League (WJAL), bringing his creativity and entrepreneurial skills to the executive team.
Udonis Haslem: The three-time NBA champion and Miami Heat star is the owner of the Rebote Renegades, a team in the WJAL.
Ray Lewis and Lawrence Taylor: These NFL Hall of Famers are co-owners of the Warriors, another team in the WJAL. Lewis is also a director on the league's board.
Jorge Masvidal: The retired UFC fighter is an investor and partner in the WJAL.
Monica Puig and Eugenie Bouchard: These professional tennis players are also associated with the league as ambassadors or investors.
Casino Operators: In Florida, some casinos, like Magic City Casino, have invested in jai alai to maintain their gaming licenses after greyhound racing was phased out. They see potential in modernizing the sport with new betting models and embracing technology to reach a broader audience. Magic City Casino, specifically, sees sports wagering as a key pathway to profitability, according to Sportico.com.
Sports Business Entrepreneurs & Leagues: Organizations like the World Jai-Alai League (WJAL) are actively trying to revitalize the sport through strategic partnerships, revised gameplay, and leveraging social media and international sports wagering markets to reach a new generation of fans, according to PR Newswire. The WJAL has attracted significant investment and partnerships as it strives to bring jai alai back to prominence.
Individuals Passionate About the Sport: Those who have a deep connection to jai alai and believe in its potential often invest their time, resources, and influence to promote its comeback. This includes people involved in the community, players like Benny Bueno who are actively scouting new talent from countries where jai alai is making a comeback, says cultursmag.
These investments represent a mix of financial, strategic, and personal commitments, all aimed at breathing new life into the historic sport of jai alai.
Tiger's Jai-Alai Chalk Talk
