DraftKings Sportsbook to Open at Wrigley Field June 27th with Bar and Restaurant Service Article Template
Wrigley Field hospitality partners with DraftKings and Levy to open one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment destination
CHICAGO - (June 19, 2023) - DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) and Levy today announced that the DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field will open its doors to the public on June 27, 2023, with food and drink service.
In September 2020, DraftKings and the Chicago Cubs first announced an agreement to bring a premier entertainment destination to iconic Wrigley Field. The marketing deal included plans for a retail sportsbook, pending licensure and regulatory approval from the Illinois Gaming Board, as well as DraftKings’ designation as the team’s exclusive sports betting operator and daily fantasy partner. Wrigley Field hospitality partner Levy was tapped to be the food and beverage operator for the facility and Marquee Development was selected as the real estate developer on behalf of the Cubs and DraftKings.
The development opens with a focus on optimized design for the enjoyment of both sports viewing and elevated fan favorites and an extensive beverage program.
Located at the corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue and adjacent to iconic Wrigley Field, the year-round destination will first open as a state-of-the-art sports bar and restaurant, with plans for DraftKings to later add retail sports betting, pending licensure and regulatory approval from the Illinois Gaming Board.
“Today marks a significant milestone in this multi-year project and it represents the shared vision and longstanding relationship DraftKings has established with the Chicago Cubs,” said Michael Kibort, Senior Director, Retail Sportsbook at DraftKings. “Fans will soon be able to experience the commitment both organizations have in creating unforgettable and authentic moments around sports.”
Food and Beverage Offerings
Guests can enjoy a variety of different seating options throughout the 17,000- square-foot space, ranging from traditional tables and bar stools at the Jim Beam Bar, to plush booths, drink rail seats and semi-private spaces designed to fit groups of up to 25.
In each space, fans will enjoy a menu featuring American bar fare with elevated and unique twists on gameday favorites, crafted by Levy, the Cubs’ hospitality partner at Wrigley Field. Levy is the Chicago-based market leader creating innovative food and beverage experiences at iconic sports and entertainment venues and world class restaurants.
“From the ballpark and rooftops to Gallagher Way and now the DraftKings Sportsbook, there are so many ways for fans to experience world-class hospitality at Wrigley Field. We’re excited for this new space to capture the energy and excitement of a visit to the ballpark, with a hospitality experience all its own, crafted around all of the ways fans enjoy the action together,” said Jeff Denlea, Vice President of Hospitality Strategy for Levy at Wrigley Field.
The culinary experience at DraftKings Sportsbook, crafted by the Wrigley Field culinary team led by Senior Executive Chef David Burns, features elevated bar food, shareable plates and mouthwatering ballpark-inspired fare. Signature dishes will include:
House Smoked Pastrami Sandwich: House Smoked Pastrami, Sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, Louis Dressing, Toasted Caraway Rye Bread
Colossal Hot Dog: ½ lb. Charred Dog, Caramelized Onions, Spicy Mustard, New England Bun
Prime Rib Sandwich: Smoked Angus Prime Rib, White Cheddar, Crispy Onions, Horseradish Cream, Beef Au Jus
The beverage program will be anchored by a variety of domestic and international beers, with 10 signature selections on tap, as well as a full selection of spirits, and curated list of wines and signature libations.
Venue Design and Immersive Viewing Experiences
The design of DraftKings Sportsbook, which came from global architecture, design & planning firm Gensler, honors the historic presence of Wrigley Field and is punctuated with energetic, modern elements. The stunning two-story venue features a massive 2,000-square-foot video screen – one of the largest in the Midwest – that can show up to 25 sports games at once. A scrolling ticker displaying odds, scores and player information coupled with a state-of-the-art sound system will ensure that fans won’t miss a moment of the action.
Given Wrigley Field’s designation as a National Historic Landmark, as well as a Chicago Landmark, the project team worked closely with the National Park Service, State Historic Preservation Office and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to design a contemporary structure that followed historic guidelines. The exterior of the building pays homage to the ballpark’s classic green steel elements that help define its iconic aesthetic. A substantial portion of the facade features glass, which creates an airy feel and allows for unobstructed views into and outside the venue.
Every visitor has a sightline to the action—there’s not a bad seat in the house. The bar seats have optimal viewing of the monumental video wall, while the dining area features a variety of table sizes for gatherings over dinner. The first level banquettes with their associated drink rails create a stepped, theater-style view of the screens, and the mezzanine offers opportunity for groups to claim their seat and enjoy the action.
Additional theater-style seating is included on the mezzanine with individual feature-chairs and their personal drink tables, inviting patrons to relax and stay awhile. Two larger, semi-private areas can be rented out by groups with operable drapery to either enclose each space or be opened to create one event space. Each of these areas include reconfigurable furniture, dedicated televisions, and space for personal buffet food service, allowing parties to be surrounded by the energy of the DraftKings Sportsbook experience.
Construction, which began in March 2022 and took 14 months to complete, was executed in partnership between Pepper Construction and Marquee Development. The project team was rounded out by McCann Systems (Audio/Visual) and TriMark USA (Food Service Design).
The DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field is located at 1012 W. Addison St. and will be open Monday through Thursday from 4-11 p.m.; Friday from 9-2 a.m.; Saturday from 9-2 a.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and is subject to change based on event programming around the Wrigley Field campus.
All guests must be 21 years of age or older to enter the DraftKings Sportsbook and no entry is permitted from inside Wrigley Field.
About the Chicago Cubs: The Chicago Cubs franchise, a charter member of Major League Baseball’s National League since 1876, has won the National League pennant 17 times and was the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles in the 1907 and 1908 seasons. In 2016, the Chicago Cubs made history again when the team won its first World Series in 108 years, ending the longest championship drought in North American sports. Known for its ivy-covered outfield walls, hand-operated scoreboard and famous Marquee, iconic Wrigley Field has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916 and is the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. In 2009, the Ricketts family assumed ownership of the Chicago Cubs and established three main goals for the organization: Win the World Series, Preserve and Improve Wrigley Field, and Be a Good Neighbor. For more information, visit www.cubs.com.
About Marquee Development: Marquee Development is a real estate developer that creates magnetic destinations and world-class guest experiences. With a hands-on, inclusive approach, they create mixed-use spaces that become beloved gathering places, delighting neighbors and visitors alike. Born from professional sports ownership, their strategic operations and hospitality expertise delivers long-term value for owners and teams across the country, while their in-house event team keeps people coming back again and again, throughout the year. Discover more at www.marqueedevelopment.com.
About Levy: The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters and music festivals, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All-Star Games. For more, visit levyrestaurants.com.
About DraftKings: DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming and digital media. Headquartered in Boston, and launched in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings is the only U.S.-based vertically integrated sports betting operator. DraftKings’ mission is to make life more exciting by responsibly creating the world’s favorite real-money games and betting experiences. DraftKings Sportsbook is live with mobile and/or retail sports betting operations pursuant to regulations in 23 states and in Ontario, Canada. The Company operates iGaming pursuant to regulations in 5 states and in Ontario, Canada under its DraftKings brand and pursuant to regulations in 3 states under its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand. DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports product is available in 44 states, certain Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. DraftKings is both an official daily fantasy and sports betting partner of the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR and UFC, as well as an official daily fantasy partner of NASCAR, an official sports betting partner of the NBA and an authorized gaming operator of MLB. Launched in 2021, DraftKings Marketplace is a digital collectibles ecosystem designed for mainstream accessibility that offers curated NFT drops and supports secondary-market transactions. In addition, DraftKings owns and operates Vegas Sports Information Network (VSiN), a multi-platform broadcast and content company. DraftKings is committed to being a responsible steward of this new era in real-money gaming with a company-wide focus on responsible gaming and corporate social responsibility.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside DraftKings’ control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see DraftKings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. DraftKings does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.