Miami could lose a piece of sports history as the only professional jai alai league in the U.S. considers leaving South Florida for a new home.

Why it matters: The world's fastest ball sport has had a presence in Miami for decades, even as jai alai's popularity waned across the country.

Driving the news: Scott Savin, chief operating officer of the World Jai-Alai League, says the league's lease at Magic City Casino is set to end later this year.

• The WJAL, which boasts celebrity investors like artist Pitbull and Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem, is in discussions with venues in South Florida, Las Vegas and Rhode Island.
• The league will play its final two seasons at Magic City, with the last games to be played in December.

What they're saying: "We really don't want to leave Florida but we have to take the best opportunity that comes along for us," Savin tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Jai alai, which originated in the Basque region of Spain and France before landing in the U.S. in 1904, has a 100-plus-year history in Florida.

• The sport's popularity in South Florida began to decline in the 1980s, when Florida authorized the lottery, leading to a players' strike, the Associated Press reports.
• Jai alai operators were hit hard by a 2021 law overturning a requirement that certain casinos host pari-mutuel gaming, like jai alai or horse racing, in exchange for keeping card rooms or slot machines.

State of play: Currently there are only two places in the U.S. where you can watch jai alai – the Magic City Casino and the Dania Beach Casino in Broward County, which now runs an annual tournament.

• WJAL is owned by West Flagler Associates, which owned the Magic City Casino before selling in 2023.
• The terms of the sale allowed the WJAL to operate there through this year, Savin says.

How it works: Jai alai traditionally involves players launching goatskin balls off a three-walled fronton using a curved, hand-held wicker basket.

• The ball can travel up to 186 mph, according to the Federación Internacional de Pelota Vasca.
• The WJAL, which started operating in 2018 and employs 38 players across six teams, has used social media to entertain and educate new, younger audiences about the sport.
• It has also attempted to speed up the game by reducing the size of the court, substituting a rubber ball and making the rules more closely resemble singles tennis.

Follow the money: Each player earns a base salary and has full medical coverage. Earnings increase the more games you win.

• Last season, players earned between about $50,000 and $120,000, Savin says.
• Many players have second jobs or used to be pro athletes, like Tanard Davis, a former NFL player and University of Miami student athlete.
• "Our guys, they're not Jimmy Butlers and they're not making millions of dollars a year," Savin says, comparing his players to the disgruntled Heat superstar who left Miami for a big payday in Golden State. "They play because they love the game."

The latest: As of last month, jai alai fans can bet on the WJAL using the Hard Rock Sports Book app.

• It's part of the settlement in the lawsuit that WJAL parent company West Flagler Associates filed against the Seminole Tribe of Indians over its monopoly on sports betting.

If you go: The WJAL plays for a live crowd on Fridays at 7pm and plays broadcast-only games Monday and Tuesday at 5pm.

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💎 The World Precious Metals building in downtown Miami is going to be converted into a "mixed-use hub" featuring retail and office space, with the potential for hospitality uses.

• Revitalization Unlimited, a group dedicated to preserving historic buildings, announced its purchase last week.
• The eight-story tower, at 40-46 NE 1st Ave., was built in 1915.

🏷️ MG Developer has launched sales for Alhambra Parc in Coral Gables.

• The eight-story development will feature luxury residences, office space and ground-floor retail at 33 Alhambra Circle.

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🏈 The Dolphins released running back Raheem Mostert, cornerback Kendall Fuller and tight end Durham Smythe. (ESPN)

💉 Broward Health canceled some elective surgeries at its four hospitals last week after anesthesiologists walked off the job due to non-payment from private anesthesia provider Anesco. (Sun Sentinel)

🚨 A Santeria ritual at a Hialeah home led to a stabbing and a fatal shooting, police say. (Local 10)

More houses for sale in 2024 came with homeowners association fees, and those dues rose from 2023, according to a recent report.

Why it matters: For many homebuyers, HOA fees are another financial hurdle in an already tough market.

The big picture: HOA dues typically cover maintenance and amenities like pools and gyms, plus other costs that keep a community running.

By the numbers: Nationwide, 40.5% of homes listed for sale on Realtor.com in 2024 had HOA dues, up from 39.2% in 2023.

• The median monthly fee climbed to $125 from $110.

Zoom in: In Miami, 74.6% of listed homes on Realtor.com had HOA dues.

Manny hit South Beach over the weekend to catch an outdoor classical music performance.

• Can you guess his location? Reply to this email with the right answer and you might win an Axios Miami tote bag.