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Dan Le Batard: The savior of Dania Jai-Alai?
Could the savior of Dania Jai-Alai be ... Dan Le Batard?
No, I'm not scamming for cheap air time. Hear this out...
The 790 The Ticket Radio personality has been hosting monthly events at the fronton, which could use a lift. The poker room and jai-alai fronton are wheezing, and the Dania has a license for slots but isn't putting them in anytime soon because it says the state's 50-percent tax is too high.
Wednesday night, Le Batard (pictured with winner Leonel Alberto) was the host for a $25 poker tournament at Dania, having talked it up all week on his radio show. The weekly Wednesday tournaments, when unpromoted, usually draw 60 players: Wednesday night's drew 250 at the tables, another 50 who slid in once people were knocked out -- and the fronton turned away another 150, Dania's Marty Fleischman said.
"Haven't had a crowd like this in a long, long time," he said. "Gotta figure out a way to get them all in next time."
Many players spilled into the cash poker games once they were knocked out of the tournament, or headed down to the fronton to bet on jai-alai. The 99-cent beers, hot dogs and wings/fries didn't hurt things. It felt like a night out.
The poker wasn't for elite players -- 2,000 chips and blinds increasing every 10 minutes meant you needed to win a hand early -- but it certainly was a lively crowd, and 790's staff made players laugh with its bad gift giveaways, such as a photo of the Chicken -- unautographed!
But clearly the fronton is on to something, and Le Batard's demographic -- young, rowdy guys --is ideal for the fronton, which is in such disrepair the escalator rail is wrapped in yellow caution tape.
My suggestion: Push it even further. Bring in a band. Girls in skimpy outfits. Maybe relocate the entire 790 studio at the fronton, heck, there's enough dead space available. Let them walk back and forth, from their shows, to the action, in real time.
It's there for the taking. Run with it.
If they built it that way, would you come?
UPDATED: Now sources say the real savior is Marc Hochman, the show's producer. Look for a battle to brew, and possibly a power struggle.
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, early training for his...
Comments
Suey!
Posted by: Hogfats Domino | July 17, 2008 3:10 PM
nice article but c'mon, do some research. Spell the man's name correctly
Posted by: Doug | July 17, 2008 3:12 PM
Boy, is that embarrassing. Thanks.
Hope no one printed it out.
Posted by: Nick Sortal | July 17, 2008 3:53 PM