Big money in fantasy sports

DraftKings was the top advertiser across television last week in the U.S. during the lead up to the kick-off of the NFL season, iSpotTV revealed.

The fantasy sports company spent $16,488,346 on 4910 commercial airings in the 7 days ending September 10, 2015, a drive that reportedly netted them a mind boggling one million new fantasy sport players.

4.5 million players are now registered with DraftKings, up from April 2015’s tally of one million.

Competitor FanDuel threw its cash at television during the same period spending $11.8 million for 2600 commercials.

And while the focus is on the battle between DraftKings and FanDuel another fantasy sports company is quietly gaining in prominence says Forbes.

Draft Ops has just clinched an exclusive legacy partnership deal with Monumental Sports & Entertainment and by extension National Basketball Association team the Washington Wizards, National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, Women’s National Basketball Association team – the Washington Mystics, the Verizon Center and Monumental Network.

The eight-figure deal runs for 5 years and includes the development of a branded fantasy lounge at Verizon Centre and a Washington Mystics jersey sponsorship.

Draft Ops has similar fantasy lounge plans for New York-situated Barclays Center and the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California.

The Monumental deal effectively covers the entire Washington D.C. sports market with the exception of the Washington Redskins who are already tied-in to a contract with FanDuel.

According to Forbes, Draft Ops’ 3-year partnership with Barclays Centre and its sponsorship of the New York Islanders came at a cost in the 7-figures.

In related news, DraftKings boosted its NFL portfolio with another 12 sponsorship deals comprising Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots.

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