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The newest, shiniest place to enjoy some beverages and food near Wrigley Field in Chicago just happens to be a sportsbook. DraftKings Sportsbook might not yet have its license to take bets on sports in Wrigleyville but it plans to start serving up other experiences next week.
On June 27, the DraftKings Sportsbook adjacent to Wrigley Field will open to the public for those of age to bet on sports in Illinois. As DraftKings is working through the licensing process to actually start taking bets, it wants Chicagoans to bet on having a good time regardless of the lack of in-person gaming options.
DraftKings Sportsbook ready to welcome guests for dining
The realization of years of planning and preparations is but days away. DraftKings made a deal with the Chicago Cubs almost three years ago. The partnership made DraftKings the Cubs’ exclusive betting partner and included a collaboration on a physical sportsbook literally right next door to Wrigley Field.
Last summer, DraftKings provided an update and released some renderings of the space. The in-person experience could trump the impact of those renderings, however. The 17,000 square-foot space includes several seating options for almost 700 people.
Among those is a bar with an optimal viewing angle for the facility’s 2,000 square-foot viewing screen that is curved to fit the building and ensure that patrons can view it comfortably regardless of where they are seated.
The sports betting license is still pending for the book so no betting will be available at the counter inside the space. At this point, DraftKings has no timeline for when it will receive that license from the Illinois Gaming Board. As the sportsbook is firmly inside the borders of Illinois, however, patrons of age can wager on sports on their mobile devices.
For the time being, the draw of the space besides the proximity to Wrigley and the newness is the beverage and food menu. The facility’s potential as a gathering spot is high for those reasons as well.
DraftKings ready to compete for attention in Wrigleyville
Wrigleyville might be just as famous for its cavalcade of bars as it is for baseball. Despite being the newest project in the neighborhood, DraftKings intends to vie for dining and entertainment dollars.
The DraftKings Sportsbook will offer a full bar with 10 brews on tap. In addition, the food menu focuses on American fare as curated by Levy, the Cubs’ hospitality partner. Among highlights on the menu are:
- Colossal Hot Dog — a hot dog weighing in at a full half pound topped with caramelized onions and spicy mustard nestled in a New England bun
- House Smoked Pastrami Sandwich — pastrami smoked in house laden with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Louis dressing, and placed between slices of toasted caraway rye bread
- Prime Rib Sandwich — prime rib that again is smoked in house amongst white cheddar, crispy onions, and horseradish cream served with au jus
The sportsbook will accept online reservations via its website. In that vein, it offers two semi-private spaces that can accommodate parties of up to 25 each. While there is certainly no shortage of screens anywhere around the bar, the viewing options are actually greater than meets the eye.
The 2,000-square-foot viewing screen can show up to 25 games simultaneously. Additionally, patrons can control their audio experience by using a connected smartphone app. For those who wish to check out the sportsbook for themselves, there are some particulars to be aware of.
What to know if you plan to go
There are some things people should note before they make the trek to Wrigleyville to check out DraftKings’ newest duds.
- DraftKings Sportsbook Wrigleyville will begin its beverage and food service on Tuesday, June 27, 2023
- Patrons must be at least 21 years of age to enter the sportsbook
- There is no connectivity to Wrigley Field from inside the sportsbook. Guests must exit the sportsbook to enter Wrigley Field and vice versa.
- There are no ticket options for Cubs games that include a reservation for dining at DraftKings Sportsbook
- The hours for the sportsbook are Mondays through Thursdays 4 p.m. through 11 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. through 2 a.m.; Sundays from 9 a.m. through 10 p.m.
- DraftKings Sportsbook will be open all year long, including the Cubs’ offseasons
- The betting counter is not yet open as the sportsbook does not yet have its license. DraftKings plans to offer self-service kiosks with regulatory approval
- The DraftKings Sportsbook is mere steps off the Addison Red Line stop
- Paid public parking is available near DraftKings Sportsbook but the sportsbook does not offer dedicated or validated parking
- While DraftKings Sportsbook will do its best to accommodate walk-in diners, reservations are highly encouraged
