Source: DraftKings Inc.
LOS ANGELES, CA, July 13, 2015 – STAPLES Center and DraftKings Inc., a leader in daily fantasy sports, today announced a comprehensive, long-term marketing partnership that will establish DraftKings as the exclusive Daily Fantasy Sports Partner of STAPLES Center and create the DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar & Lounge on the Main Concourse of the Downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment arena.
Set to open in September, the DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar and Lounge will be open during every public event taking place at STAPLES Center. Fans will enter thru the arena’s Star Plaza and experience the game-time excitement of being inside STAPLES Center during an event from their seats within STAPLES Center’s newest and most unique hospitality area. Guests can follow their favorite players and teams and all of the live action of the event taking place inside STAPLES Center and other venues around the world on more than 35 Toshiba smart televisions, 6 Toshiba Virtuoso Screens, 15 Microsoft Surface Tablets and 4 iMacs, while ordering from an exclusive menu featuring signature food and drink choices. The DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar and Lounge will also be equipped with technology to enable the origination of live broadcasts of Fantasy Sports content. Guests providing their DraftKings ID will receive discounts on food, beverages and other exclusive opportunities, and throughout each event, lucky fans will be randomly chosen to receive prizes, special offers and even the opportunity to go inside STAPLES Center to watch the action from VIP seats provided by DraftKings.
In addition to establishing the 4,400 sq. ft. location of the DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar & Lounge, the first-ever arena-based DraftKings branded hospitality space of its kind, DraftKings will also receive premium exposure throughout the AEG owned and operated STAPLES Center including digital signage within the arena, concourse presence and customized digital exposure including official web-site and social media presence. DraftKings will also receive numerous hospitality benefits, including tickets and other premium arena amenities which will be used as incentives and rewards for DraftKings members and DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar and Lounge guests, ticketing opportunities and the ability to do live broadcasts, press conferences and other private events in the Lounge including arena dark days.
“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to enhance STAPLES Center’s guest experience while highlighting our partnerships with the industry’s most dynamic companies,” said Lee Zeidman, President STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE. “This partnership will not only launch what we believe will be a signature and entertaining hospitality destination for our fans but will create numerous opportunities for us to introduce and showcase the exciting and original concepts being developed by DraftKings.”
It was also announced that DraftKings and the LA Kings would be extending their category-exclusive sponsorship of the AEG-owned NHL franchise first signed in 2014. As part of the extension, DraftKings will continue to receive television-visible dasherboard signage, social media exposure, VIP hospitality elements as well as marketing support of DraftKings’ NHL Fantasy Contests via LA Kings banner ads, emails, newsletters and other platforms.
“With the opening of our first DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar & Lounge of its kind, we are creating the premier destination for Los Angeles sports fans to watch games, play daily fantasy and socialize over great food and drink,” said Jason Robins, DraftKings CEO. “We will bring DraftKings players closer to the action each day with live broadcasts, VIP experiences, special guests, and ticket giveaways.”
AEG Global Partnerships, an affiliate of AEG that collaborates with more than 120 AEG assets worldwide to create sales and marketing platforms, negotiated the multi-year agreement on behalf of STAPLES Center and the LA Kings.
“We are extremely proud to partner with DraftKings to continue to enhance the incredible and comprehensive fan experience platforms with two of AEG’s signature assets in STAPLES Center and the LA Kings,” said Nick Baker, Senior Vice President, AEG Global Partnerships. “From day one of conversations with the DraftKings team we shared the vision and commitment to creating a truly unique and rewarding experience for fans through the DraftKings Fantasy Sports Bar and Lounge.”
About DraftKings
DraftKings, Inc. is a leading skill-based Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gaming destination for fans in North America to compete in single-day online games for cash and prizes across the largest variety of professional and collegiate sports. DraftKings is the exclusive DFS partner of Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, NASCAR and Ultimate Fighting Championship. Founded in 2012 by CEO Jason Robins, CRO Matt Kalish and COO Paul Liberman, DraftKings is headquartered in Boston, Mass.
About STAPLES Center
STAPLES Center has clearly established itself as the sports and entertainment center of the world. As the home of four professional sports franchises – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks – STAPLES Center has proven to be a home court advantage for the local teams. The AEG owned and operated arena continues to distinguish itself as the host of major, high-profile events of national and international distinction including the 2004 & 2011 NBA All-Star Games, 2002 NHL All-Star Game, 2000 Democratic National Convention, 2009 World Figure Skating Championships and 15 of the last 16 GRAMMY Awards shows. STAPLES Center’s sixteen years have also been marked with performances and special events that brought international stature to the downtown Los Angeles venue including concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (who played the arena’s first-ever public event on October 17, 1999), Mana, Prince, U2, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Usher, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Roger Waters, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Sade and Justin Timberlake, as well as world championship boxing, family shows and special events. Hosting over 250 events a year, the arena’s reputation for world-class amenities, features and commitment to quality of service and the guest experience is second to none.
