DraftKings Expands Live Presence with New Books in Michigan, Tennessee

DraftKings has done it again. Already having set the bar high for what sports betting operators need to offer, it is entering a new partnership that will raise the bar even higher. While it may have made its fortune focusing on digital gaming options, DraftKings is getting into the brick-and-mortar sports bar business, and sportsbooks are going to have to take notice.

DraftKings Teams Up with Sports & Social

According to a press release from yesterday, DraftKings is partnering with Sports & Social, a live entertainment concept developed, in part, by The Cordish Companies. The two entities will introduce “upscale” sports bars across the US, starting with two – one in Nashville, TN, and the other in Detroit, MI. The properties are being designed by ICRAVE, an “internationally acclaimed award-winning strategy, design, and development firm.” The sports bars, complete with the obvious sportsbook, will give DraftKings more exposure to sports bettors and allow the operator to appeal to a larger gaming market.

Says DraftKings Chief Business Officer Ezra Kucharz, “Today, so much of sports betting is focused on the mobile-technology aspect, however [sic] the in-person experience is an integral layer that we look forward to advancing alongside Sports & Social’s premier dining and entertainment offerings. By aligning with one of the fastest-growing entertainment concepts in the country, we now have the opportunity to bring our world-class products to life by offering engaging, interactive and fan-first destinations to skin-in-the-game customers.”

A New Era of Sports Betting Experiences

DraftKings is now live in 14 states, operating both online and physical books. Several other markets will be added soon, giving the company a lot of real estate in its portfolio. With the new Sports & Social partnership, provided all of the regulatory obstacles can be overcome, DraftKings is poised to introduce a new sports betting experience across the US that could rival all previous options. Should that happen, other sports betting operators are going to be obligated to follow suit, or risk experiencing a decrease in their market shares.

Sports & Social, according to the announcement, offers “the best in sports-watching and state-of-the-art audio/visual displays, made-from-scratch menu items, curated cocktails and exciting entertainment.” It was developed by Cordish’s Live! Dining & Entertainment Division and can be found strategically located close to sports parks across the US. Among these are The Battery adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta, GA and Ballpark Village adjacent to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO. In addition, its venues are located at Texas Live! in the Arlington Entertainment District; Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA; Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in Philadelphia’s Stadium District and Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor.