In a move that could spark a domino effect in Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs announced that they have entered into a massive deal with DraftKings and plan on adding a sportsbook at Wrigley Field.
DraftKings has been a daily fantasy partner with the Cubs, but will now become the official sports betting partner for one of the sport’s most iconic franchises. This deal is also seen as a sign of things to come as Illinois’s sports betting market continues to grow.
What the Deal Includes
The Chicago Cubs are the first MLB team to announce that they will have a sportsbook within the stadium grounds. It’s being reported that this historic deal will last for the next decade and is said to be worth roughly $100 million dollars.
Cubs’ president of business operations Crane Kenney commented on the team’s landmark partnership with DraftKings:
“DraftKings has been a great partner for a number of years and we are excited to expand this relationship as sports betting grows rapidly in Illinois. An increasing number of sports fans want to integrate sports betting into their game experience, and we’re excited to be one of the first to engage in developing a retail sportsbook at a professional sports venue.”
In terms of what fans can expect to get out of the deal, early reports suggest that there will be a sportsbook at the field for fans to place wagers. As for online access, that will be available in the “surrounding Wrigleyville area,” which obviously limits just how convenient this option is.
What hasn’t been made known is whether or not the field will install betting windows. Furthermore, it’s not exactly clear where at the stadium the sportsbook will be located.
This news comes on the heels of other similar deals taking place with sportsbooks and professional sports teams across the country. It seems to be a trend that is really catching on right now with many venues and sports clubs looking for that perfect sportsbook to pair up with.
Not a Homerun Yet
While the news of the partnership was certainly exciting for many baseball fans and sports betting enthusiasts, there are still a few hurdles to overcome before the proposed plans can become a reality.
In fact, there are a number of regulatory steps that will be required in order to open a retail sportsbook at the stadium, and all of this will take time which is why the Cubs and DraftKings both haven’t commented on a specific timeframe for this venture.
Although sports betting was made legal in the state earlier this year, in order to have a retail sportsbook at the stadium, the city of Chicago would need to grant approval.
From there, the Cubs will also need to receive development approval for constructing the sportsbook at the stadium. Without a firm plan in place for where it would be located, some pundits believe that the DraftKings sportsbook could end up outside of the ballpark somewhere in Wrigleyville.
In addition to what the baseball franchise needs to do to get things underway, DraftKings will need to apply for a master sports wagering license, which is granted by the Illinois Gaming Board.
With numerous steps still to take, this deal is more of a ground-rule double at this point than a home run. One has to wonder what the late, great Harry Caray would think about this landmark occasion.
Rick Rockwell
As a longtime freelance writer, avid sports fan, former athlete, and experienced sports bettor, Rick Rockwell has risen up the ranks at GamblingSites.org to become the self-professed “King of the Blog” in his first year with the site. …
