In the wake of the NHL signing a non-exclusive sports betting deal with MGM Resorts that left open the possibility for each club to still do business with their own sports books, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment has announced a deal with Caesars Entertainment. The deal will be a multi-year deal and will stretch to effect the Devils, Prudential Center and the Philadelphia 76ers, all owned by HBSE.
According to the press release on the Devils website, “This historic partnership will introduce New Jersey sports fans to Caesars Entertainment’s new sports book experience now available at two of its Atlantic City properties and The Caesars Casino & Sports app through special promotions and activations inside the exclusive Caesars Club at Prudential Center.” Sports betting recently became legal in the state of New Jersey following a United States Supreme Court ruling reversing a ban on sports betting nationally.
The new Caesars Club at Prudential Center will be a “5,000-square-foot premium restaurant and bar” and “will be located on the main concourse, providing Caesars Entertainment’s signature VIP hospitality to Premium Seat members for all New Jersey Devils home games and will be open to all event attendees during more than 175 live events, games and concerts held at the” arena.
HBSE CRO Adam Davis had the following to say: “Prudential Center and Caesars Entertainment are industry leaders in sports and entertainment. Caesars Club is a natural way to recreate the world-class Caesars experience for New Jersey Devils Premium Seat members and one million event-goers that attend concerts and live events at Prudential Center annually. With a partnership that synergistically bookends the state of New Jersey, Caesars Entertainment can connect with engaged sports and live event fans to promote its new sportsbook and mobile sports betting app throughout the Garden State.”
What does this mean specifically for Devils fans? Get ready to be inundated with the Caesars branding, apparently. The Caesars logo will appear on “Prudential Center’s 80 digital boards and colossal 4,800-square-foot outdoor LED board” as well as “Club Level tickets, premium wristbands, concourse pillars and more.” In addition, “Caesars’ branding, including signage and waitstaff attire, will complete the Caesars’s premium experience in Caesars Club.”
There will also be a “Caesars-branded “Shoot for a Million” on-ice promotion” where “select New Jersey Devils fans will have the chance to win $1 million during the second-period break, in 10 regular-season games.” The return of Score-O perhaps?
Similar branding and events will take place at Sixers games according to the press release and fans are then directed to download the Caesars app. As the release points out, “Tri-state area came gaming customers can access the mobile app in the state of New Jersey. Sports fans can also place bets inside the new dynamic sportsbooks at Caesars Entertainment properties in Atlantic City, including Bally’s Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.”
Now since I am not a betting man, this all means very little to me. However, if it means the return of Score-O, then what the heck, I’m all in!