DraftKings links up with Arena Football League

North America’s Arena Football League (AFL) has secured a partnership with daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings.

DraftKings will now serve as the exclusive daily fantasy partner for the indoor American football league and launch a dedicated AFL fantasy game.

The fantasy sports company has also committed to streaming live coverage of AFL games on its mobile application.

DraftKings, which will also become a league-wide marketing partner of the AFL, said the fantasy sports product and streaming services will be in place for the 2019 season.

Ezra Kucharz, chief business officer at DraftKings, said: “Combining daily fantasy and live streaming is a powerful combination for providing compelling content for our customers.

“We are confident that our customers will enjoy the fast pace of AFL games and the new daily fantasy sport contests the sport allows us to offer.”

The AFL has also struck up a partnership with Sportradar, the Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN) and social media network Facebook.

Sportradar has agreed to build a new API for the AFL, which can be licensed to new partners for the automated distribution of data.

The VSiN will create various content to give fans more data and information about teams, players and games, while Facebook will stream live coverage of AFL games.

Ron Jaworski, chairman of the AFL Executive Committee, said: “The partnerships we’re announcing today give fans a whole new range of ways to get in on the action of arena football.

“Today, we’re bringing fans even closer to the game by giving them access to more data, creating more intensity in each individual moment of the game and introducing some cutting-edge gaming options.”

Related article: DraftKings eyes NJ casino partners for sports betting