FanDuel Sportsbook opening at home of Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls

FanDuel Reveals Plans for Sportsbook at Home of Chicago Blackhawks & Chicago Bulls

The United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, and the FanDuel Group, have revealed plans to open a new sportsbook lounge inside the iconic arena. The agreement, which is still awaiting final approval from the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), will eventually lead to the creation of a FanDuel sportsbook. In the meantime, bettors and fans will notice new construction around the stadium.

Deal Details

Although financial details have not been disclosed, the plan includes a two-story facility adjacent to the United Center atrium. The modern, state-of-the-art sportsbook will be equipped with new betting and viewing technology in addition to a full-service team ready to offer a “personalized customer experience.”

Howard Pizer, Chief Executive Officer, United Center Joint Venture, Described FanDuel as “an industry leader in sports betting.” He added that FanDuel has a “proven track record of innovation and excellence,” making them the ideal partner in developing the sportsbook at the United Center. Pizer stated that the sportsbook will provide fans with a new, immersive experience “unlike any other.”

Other terms of the deal include media rights, a VIP experience, and advertising assets throughout the arena.

What can fans expect right now?

In December, the Chicago City Council passed a new ordinance to allow all five sporting facilities in Chicago to develop retail sportsbooks. These are:

• United Center
• Soldier Field
• Wrigley Field
• Wintrust Arena
• Guaranteed Rate Field

Although Illinois mobile sports wagering has transformed the state into the third-largest market, gambling companies hope to capitalize on sports fans wanting to wager in person.

Wrigley Field will soon house a DraftKings sportsbook, while the NFL’s Chicago Bears have a partnership with BetRivers. With the new United Center/FanDuel partnership, Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox) is now the only stadium without a partnership.

The Wintrust Arena, home of Chicago Sky, cannot have a sportsbook due to terms set out in the IL law. Eligible venues must have a seating capacity greater than 17,000. The Wintrust Arena does not meet that threshold.

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