State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, is to be fitted with a retail sportsbook as part of a wide-ranging partnership between the NFL team, BetMGM and Gila River Hotels & Casinos.
The BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium is scheduled for opening in time for the start of the 2022 NFL season. BetMGM plans to bring its platform online in Arizona once legalised sports betting launches in the state.
The agreement with the Cardinals and Gila River Hotels & Casinos marks BetMGM’s first in Arizona. BetMGM is set to open further retail sportsbooks at its three Arizona Gila River properties – Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva – as part of the deal.
The Cardinals will become the first NFL team to open an in-stadium retail sportsbook.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to build upon our long-standing relationship with Gila River and launch a new one with BetMGM. They are best-in-class partners whose excellence and expertise in this emerging space will provide a new and innovative way to engage and interact with our fans.”
Adam Greenblatt, chief executive of BetMGM, added: “Arizona sports fans are extremely passionate and we’re confident they’ll enjoy the BetMGM experience. Gila River Hotels & Casinos and the Arizona Cardinals represent the state’s premier casino destinations and sports franchise, making them the ideal partners for us.”
The Cardinals become the latest US sports team to embrace sports betting at their venue. Last month, fellow NFL team the Detroit Lions agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with WynnBet, which will open the WynnBet Sports Bar at the team’s Ford Field stadium.
The WynnBet Sports Bar, set to open this season for fans aged 21 and over, will be WynnBet branded and located near section 222 of Ford Field. Lions fans visiting the space will have access to brand ambassadors, live betting lines, and food and drinks as part of the overall WynnBet onsite experience.
In July 2020, the Denver Broncos became the first NFL team to announce plans to install an in-stadium sports betting lounge after agreeing a multi-year partnership with BetMGM. The Broncos had previously signed partnerships with Betfred USA and FanDuel.
Last September, the Philadelphia Eagles entered into a multi-year partnership with Fox Bet, through which a new branded interactive studio was planned for the team’s Lincoln Financial Field stadium.
In January of this year, Washington Football Team entered into a new partnership with FanDuel Group, marking the first-ever market access agreement between an NFL franchise and an online sports gaming platform in the US.
In May, Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals, became the first US professional sports facility to open a sports betting venue through an agreement between arena owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment and William Hill.
The NBA’s Phoenix Suns recently detailed plans to open an in-venue sportsbook through an agreement with FanDuel. The Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team has also detailed plans for a sportsbook at Wrigley Field through a partnership with DraftKings.
Image: Blervis/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size
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