Choctaw Casinos & Resorts recently announced it has expanded its sponsorship agreement with the Texas Rangers. Choctaw Casinos & Resorts will be recognized as the “official and exclusive casino and resort of the Texas Rangers,” according to a Rangers’ press release, and will receive significant branding at the new Globe Life Field in Arlington, set to open in March 2020, in time for the Rangers’ season.
The new field, a public-private partnership between the city of Arlington and the Rangers, will serve as the team’s new home, as well as a multipurpose sports and entertainment venue. Nearly two-thirds complete, it will feature a retractable roof.
Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is in the midst of a $500 million expansion, featuring a 19-story tower including 1,000 hotel rooms, a lazy river, retail space and an expanded gaming floor.
Choctaw Nation Oklahoma Senior Executive Officer Janie Dillard said, “The timing couldn’t be any better. They are opening in 2020 and we will open a brand new resort in 2021.” Asked about the potential for sports betting at the new facility, Dillard replied, “I definitely think that’s a possibility. I think there’s an opportunity. I am really hoping, with our sponsorship we’re doing here, we’ll be on the ground level of that. We maybe could even help push that. We could maybe be instrumental in getting that in Texas, and we could be a big part of it.”
Asked the same question, Rangers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rob Matwick said, “I think we are a long way away from sports betting in Texas but as we know in Oklahoma there’s a different set of rules. I know many people from North Texas spend their time at the Choctaw Casino and when the Rangers are back in town we want our fans to come back to Globe Life Field. If someday lawmakers pass gambling in Texas, we will have those resources with Choctaw.”
Matwick acknowledged club officials have discussed the subject of sports betting in private. He said if sports betting does become legal in Texas, the Rangers organization wants to be ready to respond in an appropriate way. He noted having Choctaw Nation as a marketing partner provides gambling expertise the Rangers club lacks.
