The new DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field is finally under construction. The home of the Chicago Cubs will be the first stadium in Illinois to feature its own sportsbook.
The 22,350 square-foot retail sportsbook will be able to accommodate 1,000 customers. It will include:
- Giant 2,000 square-foot video screen
- Odds tickers
- Many television sets
- Sports betting kiosks
- Ticket windows
The DraftKings Sportsbook and the Chicago Cubs co-hosted a beam signing ceremony at historic Wrigley Field to celebrate the new addition.
Midwest Sharp states that the two-story sportsbook at Wrigley Field is scheduled to open in 2023 on the southeast corner of Wrigley Field, which first hosted Major League Baseball in 1914 when they were known as the Chicago Whales of the Federal League. This will be the largest sportsbook of its kind attached to a big league baseball stadium.
Illinois has offered legal sports betting since 2020. Earlier this year, the state began allowing online registration for online sportsbooks. As of May 2022, Illinois is one of four states to have topped $12 billion in total sports betting handle, joining New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
When it opens in 2023, the DraftKings Sportsbook will be open year-round. The venue will also feature a restaurant serving Chicago-style foods, as well as a Jim Beam-branded bar concept. It was designed by San Francisco architectural firm Gensler and the general contractor is Pepper Construction Group of Chicago.
Play Illinois reports that even if you're not betting on the ballpark's team, you will still be able to enjoy the area as the sportsbook will be open all year long, not just during the MLB season.
"Today's beam signing ceremony marks a significant milestone with longtime partner DraftKings to create a one-of-a-kind sportsbook that will enhance the gameday environment for fans and visitors to Wrigley Field. With our opening planned for 2023, we are excited to add a year-round entertainment venue to the campus."
Cubs President of Business Operations | Crane Kenney
Sports wagering is very popular in Illinois and according to the DraftKings, they have generated nearly $2 billion in handle in the state since launching mobile and online sports betting in Illinois on August 5, 2020, more than any other operator.
An article in Gaming Today states that historic Wrigley Field is the oldest ballpark still in use in the National League and a popular attraction in Chicago. The only other MLB parks with an operational sportsbook are Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. and Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mets are planning to open a Caesars Sportsbook at Citi Field.
Wrigley Field went the longest of any major league ballpark without lights, waiting more than 50 years after artificial lighting was permanently added to an MLB park. The first official night game at Wrigley was played on August 9, 1988.
In the last decade, the Cubs have expanded the footprint of Wrigley Field, adding seating to the bleacher areas, and even added rooftop seats on buildings across Waveland Avenue beyond the outfield walls.
In 2020, the ballpark was designated a National Historic Landmark, becoming the second MLB park (after Fenway Park in Boston) to be honored.
