A Maryland first for DraftKings

DraftKings Inc. has added a fifth National Football League (NFL) franchise to its roster and secured its first Maryland partnership after entering into a three-pronged deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Maryland-based football team tweeted the news of the August 18 deal that accords DraftKings official sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and free-to-play partnership rights:

Other NFL teams on the DraftKings roster include the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants.

A key takeout from the deal will see DraftKings branding “throughout M&T Bank Stadium, complete with a season-long suite.” Other tangible, fan-facing aspects of the partnership include signed merchandise, gameday experiences, and away game trips.

DraftKings’ chief business officer, Ezra Kucharz, said the Ravens deal was an additional example of his firm’s “commitment to fan engagement.”

Digital details of the deal

The partnership, announced in an official Ravens news release, gives DraftKings access to a host of digital assets, including branding and customized content on the franchise’s weekly podcast, The Lounge.

Additional brand presence across multimedia platforms comes with DraftKings being designated the title sponsor of the Ravens-facing Gameday Insider pregame show on local Maryland radio station WBAL NewsRadio 1090. 

DraftKings will also be a presenting sponsor of the Ravens Wired video content series hosted on the BaltimoreRavens official site. Here, the sports betting brand will additionally conduct homepage takeovers prior to key games and events.

Other digital integrations will see DraftKings customers accessing a Punt, Pass & Kick event via in-season daily fantasy and sportsbook contests, plus a DraftKings-NFL official free-to-play game.

looking “forward to seeing the innovative ways in which we’ll better connect with the Ravens fans”

Ravens chief sales officer Kevin Rochlitz highlighted the importance of fan engagement. He said the franchise was looking “forward to seeing the innovative ways in which we’ll better connect with the Ravens fans across our many platforms.” Offering sports fans a variety of digital touchpoints would “ultimately bring them closer to the action alongside one of the top teams from the AFC North,” the exec added.

Kucharz also mentioned that sports betting will be available to Marylanders “perhaps soon.”

Imminent Maryland sports betting launch unlikely

The Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium is one of the state’s three pro sports venues automatically qualifying for a Class A-1 license when legal sports betting goes live.

But with regulatory issues in the way, Governor Larry Hogan recently cited the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission (MLGCC) as saying that launching sports betting in Maryland in time for the start of the football season would be “just impossible.” With some progress made earlier this week, however, state legislators are now hoping for a mid-NFL season sports betting launch.

In the meantime, Ravens fans can access DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports and sportsbook apps online or via iOS and Android downloads.