A baseball executive, a Caesars Sportsbook executive, and former ESPN personality Kenny Mayne walked into a sportsbook.
The above might sound like the setup to a bad joke but was the crux of what took place in the shadows of downtown Phoenix’s Chase Field on a brilliantly sunny Tuesday morning.
The trio were among the participants in the grand-opening ceremony for the Caesars Sportsbook Arizona at Chase Field.
The two-story, 22,300-square-foot space includes forest-green tiled walls and a host of food and drink options from world-renowned chef, Guy Fieri, who operates his Guy Fieri’s DTPHX Kitchen + Bar concept out of the location.
For David Grolman, who serves as Caesars Sportsbook’s senior vice president of operations, Tuesday’s ceremony — which occurred 258 days after the opening of the operator’s temporary Arizona sportsbook at the stadium box office — represented a long-awaited era for the Vegas mainstay.
“[Today’s ceremony] means a lot to us, because this has been a labor of love,” Grolman told BetArizona.com. “If you had seen the pictures of this space, it was literally empty. And, as folks know, there are supply chain issues everywhere. So, to get this thing over the line feels really good.”
A Long-Awaited Moment for Both Sides
Grolman isn’t the only person thrilled to get the sportsbook space inside the former Game 7 Grill location up and running.
Derrick Hall, who serves as the president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, told BetArizona.com on Tuesday the franchise has been awaiting the opening festivities since well before new Arizona sports betting apps launched Sept. 9.
“We’ve been excited about this since well before we broke ground back in September,” Hall said. “The partnership [with Caesars Sportsbook] was most important, because we wanted to make sure that we partnered with a brand that was top-class, in terms of history and experience in hospitality.
“And for us, Caesars was that brand. So we’re really excited about this. And this is going to enhance the experience for our fans as well. Because this is not just a day-of-game destination. It’s going to be a year-round one that fans and non-fans are going to enjoy.”
Ken Fuchs, who serves as the head of sports for Caesars Sportsbook, added the operator sees retail sports betting as the perfect complement to their mobile operations.
Fuchs believes the Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field, with its 13 self-service betting kiosks, nine betting windows, and full-service restaurant and bar options, will become a can’t-miss destination.
“We build experiences for fans at the end of the day, when you think about the culmination of what sports betting is combined with great food from Guy Fieri,” Fuchs said. “You can’t have a more beautiful space. So, it’s actually going to be more fun to come together with your friends and have a good time and be able to bet on sports at the same time.”
What Retail (and Mobile) Betting Adds for Diamondbacks
The addition of retail sports betting to the existing Caesars Sportsbook mobile wagering options adds a new wrinkle.
That’s because D-backs fans will now have the opportunity to get in on the action for games like they never have before, which has already paid dividends for the team’s engagement with those who flock to the downtown stadium, Hall said.
“[Sports betting] has actually impacted our attendance,” Hall said. “I think we’ve gotten more people here at the ballpark. Because they now know that with the app in here in the ballpark, they can bet during the games. And now, with this retail location, we’re going to see people that are enjoying — not only our games — but I think non-baseball events, like our concerts, basketball games next door, etc.
“But this is great for the economy, it’s great for us, and I think what we’re doing is creating fans for life.”
It certainly seems like the Grand Canyon State has been kind to Caesars Sportsbook, with more than $495 million in wagers placed through the end of March.
Overall, Caesars Sportsbook ranks fourth in Arizona behind DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona ($1.079 billion), FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona ($892.4 million), and BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona ($701.5 million) — which shows people like Grolman and Fuchs how committed Arizona residents are to the company’s sportsbook product.
Grolman said one of his biggest surprises so far has been how strong the Arizona sports betting marketplace has been overall, with close to $3.5 billion in wagers placed between Sept. 9 and the end of March.
Now, the goal for Grolman, Fuchs, and Hall is to ensure the Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field meets the needs of visitors so the legendary brand can continue to gain ground.
“I think what’s been most surprising to me is just how big [Arizona sports betting] got and how quickly it did so,” Grolman said. “This is an amazing sports state, when you think about the history of the teams and their performance, including the Diamondbacks’ World Series win [in 2001].
“… When we went live, and the way we deliver Caesars rewards every time you bet and the fact that you can bet on so many different events, between our mobile app combined with a great retail space it’s just a lot of fun.”
