FanDuel envisions a more than 7,000-square-foot space inside downtown Phoenix’s Footprint Center, allowing patrons to sit back, relax and place wagers on a wide range of sports betting events.
The company on Thursday released its first set of renderings of the 7,400-square-foot sportsbook at the arena that houses the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Rattlers.
The sportsbook, which is one of the first to be placed inside an NBA arena, includes 40 televisions, a 35-foot video wall and a host of self-service betting kiosks, according to a news release.
An Arizona Achievement
FanDuel Arizona Sportsbook, the official sportsbook and daily fantasy partner of the 2021 Western Conference champions, sees the space as a place where sports fans can bet on sports year-round.
In keeping with that vision, the sportsbook will be open throughout the year, and not solely during games, the company said in the release.
“This is a watershed moment for the Suns organization and our fans,” Phoenix Suns President & CEO Jason Rowley said in the release. “FanDuel is the perfect partner as our missions are fully aligned. Simply put, FanDuel is committed to making sports more exciting while the Suns are focused on delivering exciting sports and entertainment and engaging fans at the highest level possible.”
Approval of the FanDuel-Suns partnership, along with the other sportsbook deals in the state, will be decided by the Arizona Department of Gaming, which oversees Arizona sports betting.
AZ Working On Licenses
The department has until Aug. 16 to decide which applicants qualify for licenses, or until Aug. 27, if there are more applicants than licenses available.
Arizona betting apps are expected to draw plenty of interest from bettors, according to a survey of state residents commissioned by BetArizona.com.
It’s that pent-up interest in sports betting and daily fantasy sports that excites FanDuel’s Mike Raffensperger, who called the downtown sportsbook a crowning achievement for the company.
“As we gear up to bring our best-in-class online and retail offerings to the state of Arizona, this is a momentous time for FanDuel, the Suns, and Suns fans alike,” Raffensperger, FanDuel Group chief marketing officer, said in the release. “We’re excited to open a luxury sportsbook within Phoenix Suns Arena, as the beginning of a long-term and innovative collaboration that will have a lasting impact on the state.”
FanDuel is targeting an early September opening date for the sportsbook facility at Footprint Center, a company spokesperson told BetArizona.
