Sports betting operator PointsBet has signed a new, multi-year partnership with MLB franchise the Detroit Tigers to enhance fan engagement and game-day excitement by providing access to unique experiences, content, promotions and more, in and around the team’s Comerica Park stadium.
Following Michigan‘s legalization of sports betting in 2019, this notably marks the first for any Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. The agreement will begin for the upcoming 2020 Tigers season.
“We are thrilled to welcome PointsBet as a gaming partner of the Detroit Tigers,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings Inc. “Our incredible fans will love the unique experiences and innovative offerings that PointsBet’s personalized platform provides. We look forward to the fan-friendly enhancements this will bring to the game-day experience in and around Comerica Park for years to come.”
Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA, commented: “The PointsBet team is excited to announce our groundbreaking deal with the Detroit Tigers and Major League Baseball, becoming the first legal sports betting operator in US history to partner with an MLB franchise.”
He added: “PointsBet operates in rare space within the industry by owning our technology environment from end to end, which allows us to be extremely nimble on product innovation and personalized offerings to complement our app’s market-leading speed.
“We offer the most betting options in the world on MLB games via our unique PointsBetting product, and we are excited to inject a unique and robust betting proposition into the great state of Michigan.”
The announcement is made possible by the recent agreement between PointsBet and Major League Baseball, designating PointsBet as an Authorized Gaming Operator of MLB, and granting it rights to use official MLB data along with MLB marks and logos within PointsBet products.
As part of the multi-year deal, PointsBet will have television broadcast-visible branding at Comerica Park and will be featured on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. The firm will also have a sponsored presence on the Tigers’ digital platforms and be regularly featured on The Word on Woodward, a twice-weekly fan-favorite live streaming show that airs on the club’s channel.
