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Sports

Want To Try a New Sport?

Berlin resident Matt DiDomizio opens Jai-Alai fronton in Berlin.

Jai-Alai’s back for the first time in Connecticut since 2001, and its new location is not in Hartford, Milford, or Bridgeport, but right on Four Rod Road in Berlin.

Owner Matt DiDomizio was looking for a place to play his favorite sport after the last fronton shut down in Connecticut in 2001.

DiDomizio, who played professionally in Milford from 1988 through 1990, used all his savings and a few loans to open the new fronton in May of last year.

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For those looking for professional Jai-Alai, you will still have to head to Florida where the only professional frontons remain open. However, DiDomizio offers free lessons and invites anyone of any experience level to try the game.

DiDomizio says even if his business takes off he will not turn it into a gambling establishment.

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“I promised the town of Berlin when I moved in here that no matter what happens, I won’t turn it into a para-mutual facility,” said DiDomizio.

At one time in Connecticut there were three professional Jai-Alai frontons in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Milford. The fronton is the name for the court that Jai-Alai is played on.

In the 1970’s and 80’s there were lines out the door to get a seat at the Hartford and Milford frontons. However, a player strike, allegations of game fixing and the opening of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos in the 1990’s, destroyed the once popular game.

At its peak in 1987, the Hartford fronton took in over $90 million in wagers, but before it closed in 1995, it only took in $29 million in wagers.  The Milford fronton, which was the last to close, took in $87 million at its peak in 1988, but only took in $11 million in wagers when it closed in 2001.

The origins of Jai-Alai date back to the Spanish conquistadors days. Although the version played in the United States is cesta punta, in which the players use long, basket-like gloves to propel the small, hard, rubber-cored ball at speeds of up to 160 miles an hour.

According to the Florida gaming website the rules of Jai-Alai are that most games are played to 7 points with points doubling after the first round of play (called Spectacular Seven) scoring. The game is played in a round-robin rotation, usually by 8 teams or single players. In doubles, each team consists of a frontcourt player and a backcourt player. The game begins when the frontcourt player of Team No. 1 serves the ball to Team No. 2. The winner of each point stays on the court to meet the next team in rotation. Losers go to the end of the line to await another turn on the court. The first team to score 7 points (or 9 in Superfecta games) wins. The next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions, respectively. Playoffs decide tied scores.

The way to earn points in Jai-Alai are by getting it under or over serve, where the ball does not drop between the four line and the seven line.  The other ways to score points are that the ball must be caught on the fly or first bounce. The ball, also, must be caught and thrown in one fluid motion. The judges will rule juggling if the ball pops up or if it is held for more than the required time. All three walls are in play.  The red and wooded areas are out of bounds, according to the Florida gaming website.

Regardless of the status of the fronton in Berlin, players in Connecticut are happy to have a place to go once again. Even retired players come from as far as Rhode Island to play, according to DiDomizio.

Al Torcasio from East Haven played professionally for ten years in Milford and Newport.  Torcasio was forced to retire in 2004, when the fronton in Newport shut down.

“I was excited when I heard this place was opening,” said Torcasio.  “I come here one to two times a week just so I can play again.”

Even amateur players are happy to have a real court to play on again. Jeff Bruneau from West Haven has been playing for over ten years.

“I was pumped to hear they were opening, I was here a week before they opened just to see if they needed help setting anything up,” said Bruneau.

DiDomizio is please with the turnout at his business so far, and hopes to remain in Berlin for many years to come.

“I did not open this place to make money, I did it only for enjoyment,” said DiDomizio. “ However, there has been a better turnout than I thought there would be so far.”

 

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