Fantasy Sports gaming platform Monkey Knife Fight (MKF) has acquired the daily fantasy sports (DFS) site FantasyDraft for an undisclosed fee.
In a statement, MKF said that the deal will allow it to absorb FantasyDraft’s assets and significant user base. “Already the third-largest DFS site in North America, this acquisition will solidify MKF’s position in a select category of three,” the firm noted.
In 2017, FantasyDraft acquired Fantasy Aces, creating one of the largest DFS companies behind DraftKings and FanDuel. FantasyDraft has also created many professional endorsements since its launch in 2014 including Jimmy Johnson, Shannon Sharpe and London Fletcher among others.
“Our acquisition of FantasyDraft is a natural fit for Monkey Knife Fight because of its size and reputation within the DFS industry,” said MKF Founder and CEO Bill Asher. “We are being aggressive in order to gain market share and influence in this ultra-competitive space. This is an important step as once there were four and now there are three.”
News of the acquisition follows on the heels of a number of significant announcements by the firm. In recent months it has entered into partnership deals with teams from various sports leagues, many of which included a focus on giving back to help each local community.
In Major League Baseball, partnerships have included the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, and the Miami Marlins. In the NFL, Monkey Knife Fight has entered agreements covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Chargers. Other deals have included the NHL Kings, the MLS Galaxy, and PGA golfer Charley Hoffman.
And just this week the company confirmed its latest partnership with MLB’s Texas Rangers, which focuses on COVID-19 relief in Dallas-Fort Worth. It will place cutouts of its logo, Furious George, in the left field seating area of the Rangers’ new ballpark, Globe Life Field.
Each time a ball from either the Rangers or the opposing team hits one of the cutouts, MKF will donate $10,000 to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, with no limit. MKF will donate at least $50,000 to the foundation regardless if any players hit the section.