This article was translated by John R. Bopp

A while back, we told you the story of the inauguration of the Havana jai alai court on March 3, 1901.  Today, weโ€™re discussing the reinauguration of a historic court, the Frontรณn Mรฉxico, which opened its doors again on March 10, 2017, almost exactly 116 years after the Cuban one.

Announcement of the opening of the Frontรณn Mรฉxico in 1929.

The story of the Frontรณn Mรฉxico began on May 10, 1929, when the then-president of Mexico, Emilio Portes Gil, cut the ribbon on the art deco building, which had been designed by Teodoro Kunhardt y Joaquรญn Capilla.

From the moment of its opening, the story of this extraordinary building was full of grand games and glamour until it closed on October 2, 1996.  This was due to a strike by the workers, and a $3 million debt to the concessionaireโ€™s owner.  The closure went from temporary to permanent, just like many courts in the US almost ten years prior, which had caused a deep crisis in the places where this was a spectator sport.

 

Thatโ€™s why, a few years ago, people began to talk about recovering and reopening the building, and the dream started to become real.

On March 10, 2017, the Frontรณn Mรฉxico came back to life, after 20 years sleeping.  Its opening turned into a sporting event, but mostly it was a social and economic act.  Mexican media covered the event intensely, as one should when a miracle like this happens.

Reopening of the Frontรณn Mรฉxico (photo courtesy Yadin Xolalpa)

Alongside the grand opening, Work and Social Welfare Secretary reported that, after two decades, the strike at the Frontรณn Mรฉxico, the longest one still standing at the Federal Labor Board (JFCA), ended.

Weโ€™ve collected some articles about this topic.  First, an article in El Universal, penned by Xochitl Salazar Bueno, discussing the story of this jai alai temple that Mexico, the Americas, and Basque sports are finally getting back.

El Universal โ€“ 11/3/2017 โ€“ Mรฉxico

El templo de la pelota

El Frontรณn Mรฉxico en los anos 40

Alfredo ya no alcanzรณ a ver los trenes y camiones de todos los rumbos de la ciudad que transportaban a los espectadores, quienes con emociรณn acudรญan a las competencias de pelota vasca en el Frontรณn Mรฉxico, sรณlo sabe, y eso por lo que sus amigos le contaron, que en las taquillas se vendรญa el boleto en dos pesos por persona para la sala y en un peso para la galerรญa.

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Milenio -10/3/2017 โ€“ Mรฉxico

Jai-alai, el deporte vasco que se practica en Mรฉxico

El jai-alai es un deporte vasco, tambiรฉn conocido como cesta punta, que llegรณ a Mรฉxico a principios de los aรฑos 50. El Frontรณn Mรฉxico fue uno de los lugares favoritos para practicarlo.

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Milenio -25/11/2016 โ€“ Mรฉxico

Resurge el frontรณn mรกs grande del mundo

Tras 20 aรฑos de una huelga que lo mantuvo sin actividad y en un proceso de deterioro, el Frontรณn Mรฉxico es restaurado por el arquitecto mexicano Josรฉ Moyao Lรณpez

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El Universal -11/3/2017 โ€“ Mรฉxico

Reabre sus puertas el Frontรณn Mรฉxico

Detonante de economรญa y de tradiciรณn, asรญ calificรณ el jefe de Gobierno, Miguel รngel Mancera, la reapertura del Frontรณn Mรฉxico, tras 20 aรฑos de permanecer cerrado.

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La Prensa โ€“ 13/3/2017 โ€“ Mรฉxico

Termina huelga en el Frontรณn Mรฉxico tras 20 aรฑos

La Secretarรญa del Trabajo y Previsiรณn Social (STPS) informa que, luego de dos dรฉcadas, llegรณ a su fin la huelga en el Frontรณn Mรฉxico, el paro mรกs longevo que se encontraba vigente en la Junta Federal de Conciliaciรณn Arbitraje (JFCA).

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Last Updated on Dec 20, 2020 by About Basque Country


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