Municipal Fronton Atano III

Many times on our electric bike tours we stop at the municipal handball court (fronton) Atano III to teach you how to play handball (pelota mano), the most popular traditional sport in the Basque Country. For us it is a special moment, as it allows us to talk about traditional Basque sports, an essential part of our culture, and to make you part of it by playing a few games with you, just as we do with our friends.

The Atano III, moreover, is the perfect example of a professional fronton, which helps us to give you an idea of what pelota competitions are like and to give you a better appreciation of the sport.

History of the municipal fronton Atano III

The Atano III fronton was inaugurated in 1963, after the professional pelotaris (handball or pelota players) and fans asked the town council for a fronton, after several had disappeared in previous years and the city lacked a top class fronton. The Anoeta fronton was built in the sports complex of the same name, very close to the football stadium and other municipal sports facilities, with a capacity for 1,856 spectators.

In 1995 it was renovated and renamed Atano III, and at the end of 2023 it was repainted, changing from dark green to dark grey, so that the ball is easier to see, both live and in television broadcasts.

Exterior of the pediment. On the left, the bust of Athano III. Photo by the San Telmo Museum.

Since its opening, the fronton has hosted 40 finals of the manomanista championship, the most important form of pelota, as well as finals of the pairs championship or the four and a half.

Who was Atano III?

Atano III, the nickname of Mariano Juaristi Mendizabal, is considered by many to be the best pelotari in history. He came from Azkoitia, from the Atano farmhouse, hence the name given to Mariano and his brothers, also pelotaris, who formed a dynasty of champions. One of the younger brothers, Atano VII, also excelled as a pelotari and a nephew, Atano X (son of Atano I) became a champion like his uncle.

Atano III was born in 1904 and made his debut very young, in 1922, standing out very early among the other pelotaris, because until then professional players had been sober and calm, one could even say slow, Atano III however was pure nerve and very fast, with exceptional reflexes and flexibility, in short, a revolutionary player.

Mariano Juaristi Mendizabal or Atano III with the championship cup in 1946. Photo from Wikipedia.

His only drawback was the fragility of his hands, which he had to rest after each match, making him play very little compared to other pelotaris, usually once a month. Thus, every match of Atano III was an event, which made his cache 50 times higher than that of other players.

His career lasted 22 years, in which he retained the title of manomanista champion 4 times (until 1940 there was no official pelota mano competition and the players challenged each other to see who was the best).

The bust of Atano outside the fronton. Photo by the San Telmo Museum.

Location of the municipal fronton Atano III

The Atano III fronton is located in the Amara neighbourhood, as we have already mentioned, in the Anoeta sports complex, barely a minute walk from the train station. Located in the shadow of the Reale Arena football stadium, it is semi-hidden behind some trees and shares space with the J.A. Gasca municipal sports centre, so it goes unnoticed by most passers-by. In fact, during the electric bicycle tours, we usually enter the fronton through the sports centre, so it is even more of a surprise when visitors enter the court.

Of course, during the matches, the gates of the fronton are open and the ticket offices work accordingly. If you would like to watch a competition at the fronton Atano III, just one recommendation: keep an eye out, as tickets for certain matches are usually sold out very quickly.