DraftKings Face-Off First Deal of New NHL Season with Nashville Predators

• DraftKings partnership with Predators is 3rd pro deal for operators within TN since Sept
• Predators fans entitled to generous up to $1,000 bonus from DraftKings with sign-up
• New NHL season start still in doubt but likely settled soon with special COVID-19 rules

Just in time for the impending 2020-2021 NHL season, the Nashville Predators have announced they have chosen DraftKings as their official daily fantasy sports provider and official sports betting operator in a new multi-year contract agreement.

DraftKings Sportsbook was among the first four sportsbooks to launch in Tennessee during November. The news comes ahead of the National Hockey League’s new season, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is anticipated to begin in January

Sports team partnerships with sports wagering operators have become quite popular in Tennessee over the past few months. BetMGM announced a partnership with The Tennessee Titans in September, and DFW platform and sportsbook competitor FanDuel announced a partnership with the Memphis Grizzlies on November 2, one day after online-only sports gambling launched in Tennessee.

Take a look at the best bonuses in Tennessee from both DraftKings and BetMGM.

Scoring Goals for Everyone

As part of the agreement, supporters of the Predators will be entitled to a deposit bonus of up to $1,000 from DraftKings by downloading the sportsbook’s mobile application. DraftKings Sportsbook sports betting lines will be promoted during the pre-game and within all in-game radio spots.

Terms of the agreement included DraftKings Sportsbook receiving in-venue marketing, with the sportsbook to be promoted on the Predator’s Lexus Lounge LED screen at the Bridgestone Arena across regular and postseason home games. Virtual signage will also be integrated around the arena, along with static dasher boards, visible during regionally broadcast games.

Chief Business Officer of DraftKings, Ezra Kucharz, commented:

After recently launching the top-rated DraftKings Sportsbook app in Tennessee, we are thrilled to continue our momentum in the state by announcing our latest team deal with the Nashville Predators. As a result of this collaboration, Predators fans will get the full DraftKings experience both on and off the ice as we look forward to the return of hockey season.

DraftKings will also work with the NHL side on social and digital media content, including DraftKings takeovers of the Predators homepage, app integration, and exclusive giveaways. To keep fans informed, DraftKings Sportsbook will feature regularly in the Predators’ weekly newsletter, ‘This Week in Smashville’.

Chris Jungians, EVP, and Chief Revenue Officer of the Nashville Predators was excited by the agreement and offered his observation:

As soon as the Tennessee Sports Gaming Act was passed in April, we immediately began our search for an experienced sports betting partner. With legal sports betting now live in Tennessee, we are thrilled to announce our formal relationship with industry leading DraftKings. Through this multi-year agreement, Predators fans across the state will have access to the gold standard of sports betting information technology, which provides a competitive, reliable and responsible platform. We look forward to entering this new era of Tennessee sports fandom together and to seeing everything that this partnership will bring to our state and to our fans.

Eye on the NHL Schedule

Unlike the NBA season, the NHL first regular-season face-off to begin play is a bit unclear. Negotiations between the NHL and the NHL Players Association have progressed over the last few weeks with both sides targeting a potential January 13 opportunity to start the new season. According to ESPN.com, they have cleared the financial hurdles during the most recent negotiations, which were the most critical earlier blocks to begin play.

Upon agreement, it is likely they will decide on either a 52 or 56 game regular season schedule during the COVID-19 delayed period. There also will be a temporary divisional realignment to allow for travel restrictions across the Canadian border due to the pandemic as reported by ESPN.com. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has also suggested creating a temporary Canadian division for this special season, featuring the NHL’s seven teams originating from Canada.