Caesars continues to expand its footprint in the Phoenix area ahead of an expected Sept. 9 launch for sports betting in Arizona, establishing a partnership with the Fiesta Bowl on Monday that will also include fantasy gaming.
Caesars previously gained access to the Grand Canyon State via its partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks, which allows it to offer online wagering statewide. It also has plans to build a sportsbook and bar adjacent to Chase Field.
Caesars will operate fan lounges inside stadiums for both the Guaranteed Rate Bowl — held at Chase Field — and the Fiesta Bowl, which will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on New Year’s Day. In 2023, the Fiesta Bowl is scheduled to be one of the two College Football Playoff semifinal matchups.
“We’re thrilled to work with the Fiesta Bowl Organization on this landmark partnership to bring college football fans closer to the game and build awareness around the importance of responsible gaming practices,” said Dan Shapiro, chief development officer of Caesars Digital, in a statement. “These fans are unrivaled in their passion, and we look forward to offering Caesars Sportsbook to them this fall. Our offering provides a leading user experience where every wager gives players more through our award-winning Caesars Rewards.”
Caesars will be the title sponsor of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl pre-game party and a presenting partner of the annual Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon.
Fiesta Bowl trying to stay ahead of curve
𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃: The Fiesta Bowl has joined forces with @CaesarsEnt in a first-of-its-kind sports betting and fantasy gaming partnership for a college football Bowl game.
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— PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (@Fiesta_Bowl) August 23, 2021
Now a longstanding top-tier bowl, the Fiesta Bowl still carries an upstart reputation compared to the more traditional New Year’s Day college football offerings of the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl — all part of the New Year’s Six bowl games. Fiesta Bowl officials are confident its partnership with Caesars will drive fan engagement, as well as offer an opportunity to provide sports gaming education in a new marketplace.
“This is a new frontier in the college football space, and the Fiesta Bowl is again out in front with this fan-focused partnership,” said Fiesta Bowl Chief Marketing Officer Jose Moreno. “There was significant interest in the marketplace to partner with the Fiesta Bowl; where Caesars stood out was with its similar community mindset and a creativity toward setting a new standard. We are teaming with an industry leader who is dedicated to working with us to elevate our offerings for college football and all sports fans across Arizona.”
Caesars also has ties to the Sugar Bowl by way of securing sponsorship rights to the Superdome last month, as Louisiana also hopes to begin accepting wagers by the end of the year.
