Online sports betting company DraftKings is partnering with the Chicago Cubs on plans to bring a sportsbook to the Friendly Confines.
The Cubs announced Thursday that it has named DraftKings its official sports betting and daily fantasy sports partner, and the two are working to open a physical sportsbook at Wrigley Field.
Dubbed DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field, the entertainment venue will allow sports fans to make wagers at betting windows and self-serve kiosks at the stadium. The move would make the Cubs the first Major League Baseball team to open a sportsbook at their stadium.
“An increasing number of sports fans want to integrate sports betting into their game experience, and we’re excited to be one of the first to engage in developing a retail sportsbook at a professional sports venue," Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Cubs, said in a statement.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the deal will require approval by the City of Chicago. The company also needs to obtain a license from the Illinois Gaming Board. Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings, told ESPN that the Wrigley sportsbook could be "potentially one of the biggest sportsbooks in the country."
The news comes as DraftKings began operating in Illinois last month through a partnership with Casino Queen in East St. Louis. The company offers in-person betting as well as mobile betting throughout the state.
The goal is to open the sportsbook by the end of 2022, according to Crain's, which also reported that DraftKings is eyeing the corner of Addison and Sheffield as a potential location. It will likely be located just outside the stadium as to not require a ticket access the sportsbook.
