Baseball

Havana has two teams: the Industriales (colloquially called “Los Azules,” or “The Blues”), considered the best team in the National League, and the Metropolitanos (known as “Los Metros”). Both teams play at the 60,000-seat Estadio Latinoamericano (Consejero Aranjo y Pedro Pérez, Cerro, tel. 07/870-6526), the main baseball stadium. Games are played November–May, Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. (CUC3). Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, although a few seats are reserved for foreigners.

For further information, contact the Federación Cubana de Béisbol (tel. 07/879-7980).

Basketball

The Liga Superior de Baloncesto (National Basketball League) comprises four teams—Havana’s team is the Capitalinos—and runs September–November. Games are played at the Coliseo de Deportes (Vía Blanca, esq. Av. Rancho Boyeros, Nuevo Vedado, tel. 07/40-5933, Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.), at Ciudad Deportiva; and at the Sala Polivalente Ramón Fonst (Av. de la Independencia, esq. Bruzón, Plaza de la Revolución, tel. 07/882-0000, Mon.–Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.).

For further information, contact the Federación Cubana de Baloncesto (tel. 07/857-7156).

Boxing

Championship matches are hosted at the Coliseo de Deportes (Vía Blanca, esq. Av. Rancho Boyeros, tel. 07/854-5022), base for the Federación Cubana de Boxeo (tel. 07/857-7047, www.cendecomb.cu).

The main training center is the Centro de Entrenmiento de Boxeo (Carretera Torrens, Wajay, tel. 07/202-0538), in the Boyeros district, south of Havana.

You can also watch boxing and martial arts at the Gimnasio de Boxeo Rafael Trejo (Calle Cuba #815, Habana Vieja, tel. 07/862-0266, Mon.– Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and at Sala Polivalente Kid Chocolate (Prado, e/ San Martín y Brasil, Habana Vieja, tel. 07/862-8634).

Volleyball

Voleibol is a major sport in Cuba; the national women’s team—Las Morenas del Caribe (the Caribbean Brown Sugars)—is the best in the world. Volleyball games are hosted at the Sala Polivalente Kid Chocolate (Prado, e/ San Martín y Brasil, Habana Vieja, tel. 07/862-8634) and Sala Polivalente Ramón Fonst (Av. de la Independencia, esq. Bruzón, Plaza de la Revolución, tel. 07/882-0000).

Major tournament games are held at the Coliseo de Deportes (Vía Blanca, esq. Av. Rancho Boyeros, Nuevo Vedado), which hosts the Liga Mundial de Voleibol (World Volleyball League) each spring. For further information, contact the Federación Cubana de Voleibol (tel. 07/841-3557).

Soccer

Fútbol has been adopted as the sport of choice when baseball season ends. Cuba’s soccer league is not well developed, although there is a national league.

Havana’s team is Ciudad Havana (nicknamed “Los Rojos”—“The Reds”). Games are played at the Estadio Pedro Marrero (Av. 41 #4409, e/ 44 y 50, Rpto. Kohly, tel. 07/203-4698).

© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Cuba, 5th Edition