DraftKings Inc has announced a strategic new relationship with Sports & Social to create upscale Sports & Social/DraftKings sports bars, beginning in the Nashville and Detroit markets, pending regulatory approvals.
The partnership brings together Sports & Social’s dining and entertainment venues with DraftKings’ sports gaming platforms. The integration forms a new offering in sports betting and entertainment across the US.
The venues, designed by ICRAVE, a strategy, design, and development firm, aim to fill a niche by providing an upscale, premier sports and entertainment experience. Kicking off in Nashville and Detroit, additional locations will be announced in the coming months.
Ezra Kucharz, Chief Business Officer at DraftKings, commented: “Today, so much of sports betting is focused on the mobile-technology aspect, however 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 concept by Live! Dining & Entertainment, a division of The Cordish Companies, Sports & Social is a gaming parlor and social lounge that features sports-watching and state-of-the-art audio/visual displays, made-from-scratch menu items, curated cocktails, and entertainment.
Live! Dining & Entertainment develops and operates restaurants and entertainment concepts in the US, welcoming 55 million visitors a year to its dining, entertainment, music, casino, hotel, and sports-anchored destinations and venues nationwide.
Reed Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies, stated: “DraftKings is an industry leader in sports betting and entertainment, and we are incredibly excited to work with them to bring this new experience to life.
“We are always looking to create new and innovative experiences for our guests and this collaboration will allow us an exciting opportunity to do so, bringing an incredible premier sports-watching experience with sports betting all under one roof.”
Sports & Social has locations at professional sports stadiums, entertainment districts, and casino-resort destinations including The Battery adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta, GA; Ballpark Village adjacent to Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO; 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.