First stadium exposure for FanDuel in Chicago Bears deal

The Chicago Bears opening match of the NFL season against the Green Bay Packers today (Sunday 13 September) will see wide Soldier Field stadium exposure for daily fantasy sports operator FanDuel, which landed a partnership agreement with the franchise earlier this year .

But it also represents a notable fresh approach on the part of Bears chairman George McCaskey, whose owner-family has in the past eschewed opportunities to be associated with gaming brands, even when permitted by the National Football League.

Supporters of the genre argue that in terms of US federal law DFS presently enjoys legislative carve-outs because it is skill-based, despite the current debate that the daily version is really a form of gambling.

Clearly the Bears, and 14 other NFL franchises that have signed agreements with FanDuel, are of the same mind.