The Premier Lacrosse League has announced a sports betting partnership with daily fantasy sports operator and gaming company DraftKings ahead of the upcoming PLL Championship series, which scheduled to take place on July 25-August 9 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
As part of the deal, DraftKings has been designated the official sports betting partner of the league and the PLL Championship Series, as well as the exclusive regulated gaming sponsor of the quarantined summer tournament.
Throughout the PLL Championship Series, DraftKings will also be the presenting sponsor of the newly formed PLL Analytics across all league broadcasts.
“The PLL’s partnership with DraftKings allows us to strategically service our fanbase and broaden our reach ahead of the Championship Series,” PLL co-founder Paul Rabil said in a statement. “DraftKings has cemented its position as the premium destination for legalized wagering on professional sports and we’re thrilled by their commitment to grow professional lacrosse with us. PLL fans have been hungry to bet on games and that desire’s now a reality.”
The two parties have teamed up to create a proprietary lacrosse data analytics platform that will inform fans about key trends and uncover lacrosse statistics. DraftKings and the PLL will showcase their custom sports analytical content, including betting lines, via broadcast through NBC and various media channels during all games this summer.
As part of the agreement, DraftKings will have access to PLL marks and logos including team, league, and jersey marks on all DraftKings platforms and media channels for marketing purposes as well as product lines and offerings. The partnership also enables DraftKings to leverage in-stadium rights with various TV and LED signage during each game.
Earlier this month, the PLL named Mendi as the official CBD partner of the quarantined summer tournament. Four games will be played on the main NBC network, as well as 10 games on cable network NBCSN.
Elsewhere in the sport, it was announced that Major League Lacrosse’s championship game will now air on the main ESPN network in the United States. Additionally, MLL’s coverage will expand to include TSN, in Canada, and streaming service ESPN Player, making all games this season available in more than 135 countries.
MLL is staging its 2020 season as a week-long quarantined tournament in Annapolis, Maryland, in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The competition, which will be held without spectators, will be staged from July 18-26. The event will be broadcast on ESPN networks and direct-to-consumer platform ESPN+.
MLL undertook a major restructuring earlier this year as the outdoor professional league looks to fight off the challenge of the PLL. Both summer leagues are directly competing with each other for players, fans, commercial partners, and media attention.