AUDIO: The Phoenix Suns and FanDuel Sportsbook say sports betting has taken off seven months in

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Suns partnership with FanDuel
  • Runtime: 3:22
  • Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

BYLINE: Justin Torres, Cronkite News 

It’s been more than 7 months since the Phoenix Suns and FanDuel opened the first sportsbook in Arizona. Cronkite News’ Justin Torres looks at what sports betting has brought to Suns fans and the community.

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TELEVISION MONITORS  COVER THE WALLS SHOWING EVERYTHING FROM  FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL…TO WRESTLING AND SWIMMING, AT THE FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX. 

AND FOR A SPORTS BETTOR LIKE PEDRO HERRERA, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE HEAVEN ON EARTH.

<Pedro Herrera/ FanDuel customer>

“It was actually very cool because I do a lot of online betting and to be there in person watching all the games and stuff like that is really cool. It’s a good impact on everybody here.” (9 SECONDS) 

HERRERA, LIKE MANY OTHERS, ARE MAKING USE OF THE NEW FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK, LOCATED AT FOOTPRINT CENTER HOME OF THE PHOENIX SUNS.

<Pedro Herrera/ FanDuel customer>

“There’s food, there’s drinks, there’s a bunch of TVs. Every single game you can think of every sport and it’s just a fun time to be with the boys you know.” (8 SECONDS)

 LEGAL SPORTS BETTING WENT LIVE IN ARIZONA LAST SEPTEMBER. IT’S OPENED THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO BET ON SPORTING EVENTS WITH THEIR MOBILE DEVICE, AND IT’S BROUGHT THE FIRST  PHYSICAL SPORTSBOOK IN THE STATE.  

THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A  NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FANDUEL AND THE PHOENIX SUNS.  DAN COSTELLO IS THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER FOR THE SUNS AND HE WAS AT THE HEAD OF THIS MAJOR PARTNERSHIP DEAL.

<Dan Costello/Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer for the Suns>

“You know, we view sports betting, um, as an unbelievable opportunity to get people interested in parts of the game they might not otherly be interested in.” (13 SECONDS) 

AND  PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN BETTING. IN LESS THAN A WEEK OF OPENING, THE BETTING TITAN SAW JUST OVER 270,000 NEW ACCOUNTS CREATED AND MORE THAN 6 MILLION LOGINS. 

<Tim Marks/Assistant Manager FanDuel>

“Day to day, it’s definitely, I think exceeded essentially all of our expectations , when it comes to our daily foot traffic in here, uh, this is definitely place number one to be as far as, uh, when you’re looking for a ground operation for retail, uh, in the sports betting industry.” (13 SECONDS)

THAT IS TIM MARKS. HE’S A MANAGER AT THE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX FANDUEL LOCATION. HE SAYS THESE NUMBERS SHOW EXACTLY WHY ARIZONA IS PROJECTED TO BRING IN OVER $200 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LEGAL SPORTS BETTING. COSTELLO SAYS THIS ADDS A COMPLETELY NEW AND UNTAPPED REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE STATE.

<Dan Costello/Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer for the Suns>

“I think everyone naturally gets excited about the tremendous amounts of revenue and, and those types of things for me. And part of what our team talks about is the opportunity to get people engaged.” (14 SECONDS)

COSTELLO SAYS FOR THE SUN’S, THE FANS COME FIRST.

<Dan Costello/Executive VP and Chief Revenue Officer for the Suns>

“This partnership with Fandel is more about engagement than revenue. It’s all about an opportunity to get fans excited about watching every game, every minute  throughout the season.” (11 SECONDS)

ANOTHER MANAGER AT THE FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK, NOAH KIRK, FEELS LIKE PEOPLE’S ITCH TO BET IS BIG.

<Noah Kirk/Senior Manager Fanduel>

“Every state across the nation is clamoring for sports betting. It adds an extra element to the game that really makes games exciting.” (10 SECONDS)

STATES ACROSS THE NATION SUCH AS NEW JERSEY, RAKED IN MORE THAN $46  MILLION IN GROSS REVENUE IN FEBRUARY ALONE. 

THAT’S UP ALMOST $30 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR’S FEBRUARY TOTALS REPORTED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

BUT FOR SUN FANS LIKE PEDRO HERRARA, HE SAYS SPORTS BETTING IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT MONEY. 

<Pedro Herrera/ FanDuel customer>

“I think it’s impacted in a positive way because it’s bringing everybody together.” (4 SECONDS)

THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PHOENIX SUNS AND FANDUEL IS CENTERED AROUND THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY. AND  THAT COMMUNITY IS EXPECTED TO KEEP GROWING. 

THE SUNS LOOK POISED TO MAKE ANOTHER DEEP PLAYOFF RUN THIS SEASON. THAT MEANS THE FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COULD SEE A LOT MORE PURPLE AND ORANGE COMING ITS WAY.

JUSTIN TORRES, CRONKITE NEWS.