Rob Gough acquires World Jai Alai League as Miami marks sport’s centennial

New owner outlines broadcast and live-event upgrades ahead of the Fall 2026 season starting September 18 at JAM Arena.

Entrepreneur and investor Rob Gough has acquired the World Jai Alai League, the company said on August 13, 2026. The deal lands as Miami marks 100 years of professional jai alai, which has been played in the city since 1926.

Gough said the league will invest in upgraded broadcast production, a reworked live fan experience at JAM Arena, expanded digital content and “a modern commercial platform built around its athletes, teams and partners.” The league also unveiled a refreshed visual identity as “the first visible step” in broader changes to its presentation.

“Jai Alai already has what most modern sports properties spend years and fortunes trying to create: extraordinary athletes, unmatched speed, authentic history and a deep connection to Miami,” said Gough. “My role is not to reinvent what makes the sport special. It is to give it the investment, presentation and platform it deserves, and to build a league capable of carrying jai alai into its next century.”

World Jai Alai League said it operates a modern, team-based format with digital distribution and access to regulated wagering markets via sportsbook platforms. As part of its next phase, the league plans to expand around a limited number of city-based teams and a small group of ownership partners. “Ownership opportunities will remain deliberately limited, and we will be highly selective about the owners and cities we bring into the league,” Gough said.

The Fall 2026 World Jai Alai League season begins on September 18 at JAM Arena in Miami. Matches will be available on ESPN+, FuboTV, and the World Jai Alai League YouTube channel, according to the league.