The Detroit Pistons today announced multi-year partnerships with sports gaming companies FanDuel Group and DraftKings Inc., making the two enterprises official sports betting partners of the professional basketball team.
In addition to the use of official Pistons marks and logos, each partnership will include a mix of marketing assets, including in-arena signage and activations at Little Caesars Arena where the Pistons play, television and digital advertising, and TV and radio presence to drive team enthusiasts to each entity’s sports betting offerings.
“We appreciate the partnership-minded and collaborative approach that both FanDuel and DraftKings brought to the table,” says Mike Zavodsky, chief business officer for the NBA team. “We look forward to utilizing our platform to help each grow their presence within and connectivity to the Pistons and greater Detroit Metro communities.”
In addition to its partnership with FanDuel, the Pistons also will partner with MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. FanDuel and MotorCity Casino Hotel will offer game-day experiences at the newly designed FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino in downtown Detroit.
On game days, MotorCity Casino will provide fans with giveaways, exclusive viewing parties, and other experiences to enhance sports betting experience before, during and after the games.
“This new relationship will create unique approaches for us to reach Pistons fans,” ,” says Mike Raffensperger, CMO of FanDuel. “With the FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino and mobile gaming offerings on the FanDuel Sportsbook app, we will together offer engaging experiences both inside and outside the arena while giving fans access to unique betting promotions and content.”
One element of the DraftKings partnership includes a “Piston for a Day” VIP fan experience giving users the opportunity to enter a contest where winners receive exclusive access to the team.
Winners will sign a “Pistons contract” for a day, pose for a photo with a member of the front office staff, receive a personalized Pistons jersey and warm-up clothing to wear to a Pistons game, receive a locker room tour and postgame shot on the Little Caesars Arena floor, and private access for a one-hour shootaround on the Pistons Practice Court at the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center.
“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,” says Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings. “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.”
