![]() Unexpectedly, one day in October 1975, during the second season of jai alai at the hotel-casino, the team didn’t show, and the MGM Grand received word they were on strike. General admission tickets were $3.30 ($16 today), the loge option was $4.40 ($21 today) and boxes cost $5.50 ($26 today). On average, 1,300 people attended and wagered a total of $45,000 (about $217,000 today) per night. The MGM Grand generated revenue from parimutuel* bets made on the jai alai games and from ticket sales. In Spain it’s a national sport, particularly in the northern Basque provinces. Jai alai ( jai meaning festival and alai, merry in Spanish) is a court game in which players use a long hand-shaped basket strapped to their wrist to propel a ball against a wall. Unique to the Strip at the time, it was designed as part of the Nevada resort’s entertainment package to lure visitors into the casino. A revolt of the performers - athletes in this case - threatened to close a popular attraction at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas - jai alai. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |