DraftKings Will Open A State-Of-The-Art Office In Vegas In 2022
DraftKings, one of the leading names in the digital entertainment and gaming industries, announced in a press release dated 10/4/21 that it intends to open a new state-of-the-art office in Las Vegas in early 2022.
DraftKings’ Vision for the new facility
The site chosen for the 90,000 square-foot facility will be a new development in Southwest Las Vegas called UnCommons. The project is still in the planning stage, but the company behind it, Matter Real Estate Group, anticipates that it will be completed and ready for occupancy by early next year. UnCommons will offer a 40-acre workplace and mixed-use community. DraftKings will occupy nearly the entire building.
The Las Vegas office will be DraftKings’ second largest. DraftKings’ Boston headquarters office will serve as a model. A customized floor plan will include collaborative workspaces and access to a variety of entertainment and workstations. IA Interior Architects will oversee the design.
The office will include 130 sports-trading desks surrounded by full multimedia walls. Other amenities that DraftKings employees will have at their disposal will include all of the following:
- Floor to ceiling windows
- Conference center for small group meetings and workshops
- 7,500 square-foot cafeteria and event space
- Customized casino training pit
- 500 square-foot interactive putting green
- Private and public outdoor spaces
- Residential units
- Food and beverage outlets
- Fitness centers
- Mother’s room
- Facilities for haircuts, manicures, and pedicures on site
- Prayer suites
Eventually, DraftKings hopes to have a team of 1,000 employees at this location. Another plan down the road is for UnCommons to expand the DraftKings office space from 90,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet.
Why DraftKings has chosen to expand its presence in Las Vegas
DraftKings wants to take this major step to increase its Las Vegas presence even though the company currently doesn’t run a single sportsbook anywhere in Nevada. At the present time, DraftKings Sportsbooks operate in New Jersey and 11 other US states, more states than any other sportsbook, but Nevada isn’t one of them. DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports is also not available in Nevada.
Assuming DraftKings’ purchase of Golden Nugget Online Gaming becomes finalized, that situation could change. The association with Fertitta Entertainment, Inc. could open the door for the Golden Nugget sportsbook in downtown Vegas to become the first DraftKings sportsbook in Nevada.
Even so, another problem DraftKings would face in Nevada is competing in an already crowded sports betting market against other sportsbooks that are already firmly established in the area, especially BetMGM and Caesars.
On the other hand, DraftKings’ own Las Vegas presence has grown significantly since it opened its first office in the area in Jan. 2020. During 2021, DraftKings signed multi-year agreements as the primary sponsor of the UNLV Center for Gaming Innovation. DraftKings also opened a new Gaming Innovation Studio at UNLV.
In addition, in the early part of 2021, DraftKings acquired the Vegas-based multi-platform broadcast and content company Vegas Sports Information Network (VSIN). VSIN has provided sports bettors with sports betting news, analysis, and data, since 2017.
How Matt Kalish, President of DraftKings North America feels about the company’s new investment in Las Vegas
Considering all of the foregoing and weighing the pros and cons, we will have to wait and see whether DraftKings;’ decision to expand its Las Vegas presence in such a big way is the right one. However, Matt Kalish, co-founder and president of DraftKings North America, believes that it is. This is what he had to say on the subject:
“Our new office space and Las Vegas expansion further exemplifies DraftKings’ investment in its employees and the future of the company, as well as the local community. Our goal is to create another world-class workplace environment that will foster DraftKings innovation, further bolster our local presence, and deepen community involvement. With these lofty aspirations, we were thrilled to discover that UnCommons mirrors these high standards.”
How Matter Real Estate Group feels about its working relationship with DraftKings
Much like DraftKings has high hopes that its new office in Las Vegas will be a resounding success, Matter Real Estate is also very excited about the opportunity to partner with DraftKings to expand its Las Vegas presence. Here is what Matter Real Estate Group partner Jim Stuart had to say about the new DraftKings undertaking:
“We are thrilled to provide the exceptional craftsmanship, incredible location, and technological infrastructure found within the UnCommons community to deliver the caliber of space DraftKings is looking in its second largest office in the United States.
We look forward to providing an elevated workspace experience for their team that will foster meaningful relationships, increase performance, and spark new ideas.”
Summary and conclusion
Whatever the outcome might be associated with the new office in Las Vegas, DraftKings’ amazing growth so far and its position already as a leader in the digital sports betting industry are undeniable. DraftKings is currently:
- The official daily fantasy partner of the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, PGA Tour, and UFC
- An official sports betting partner of the NFL
- An authorized gaming operator of the NBA and MLB
- An official betting operator of the PGA Tour and UFC
But, by no means, content to rest on its laurels, DraftKings looks ahead to the future. To DraftKings, opening a huge new office in Las Vegas must seem like just one more king-size move of many to keep becoming an even more dominant force in the industry.
NJ Online Casino will follow this story closely and keep you informed of any important new developments.