Sports betting and fantasy sports provider DraftKings has agreed a partnership National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise the Detroit Pistons.
DraftKings will serve as the team’s exclusive official daily fantasy sports partner, as well as an official sports betting and igaming partner of the franchise.
The operator will have access to Pistons trademarks and logos, as well as benefit from branded courtside LED signage and in-game basket pad branding at the team’s Little Caesars Arena.
In addition, Pistons fans will have the opportunity to win a range of prizes, such as a Pistons away game trip, a ‘Court of Dreams’ group event held at Little Caesars Arena and a ‘Piston for the Day’ VIP experience.
The deal comes ahead of DraftKings’ planned launch of mobile sports betting and online gambling in the state of Michigan, pending licensure and regulatory approval.
Michigan is expected to open its regulated online sports wagering market before the end of the year or early in 2021.
“As our first professional team activation in the state of Michigan, we are thrilled to join forces with the Detroit Pistons ahead of our pending market introduction,” DraftKings’ chief business officer Ezra Kucharz said.
“This deal deepens our relationship with a prominent local team to facilitate more immersive fan experiences, both for Michiganders familiar with regulated gaming products as well as newcomers to the space.”
Pistons’ chief business officer Mike Zavodsky added: “We look forward to utilizing our platform to help DraftKings grow their presence and connectivity to Pistons fans and to the greater Metro Detroit communities.”
The deal comes after DraftKings served as the official sports betting partner of the recent boxing match between former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson and former four-division world champion, Roy Jones Jr.