Dodgers Owner Helps DraftKings Raise $100 Million

Daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings has raised $100 million in investment funding in its first funding round since announcing a planned merger with FanDuel. Los Angeles Dodgers part owner Todd Boehly’s (l.) Eldridge Industries Inc. led investors, Bloomberg News reported.

Los Angeles Dodgers part owner Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries LLC was the principle investor as DraftKings raised about $100 million in an investment funding drive.

DraftKings did not release the exact amount of the funding raised, but Bloomberg News cited unnamed sources that put the figure for the Series E1 round at over $100 million.

The investment drive was the first for the DFS company since announcing a planned merger with rival DFS giant FanDuel Inc.

“We were looking for a funding partner who could bring additional depth to the table,” DraftKings Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins said in a press statement. “The exceptional team at Eldridge does that through their incredible knowledge and success with media properties.”

Eldridge Industries includes Dick Clark Productions, Billboard magazine and the Hollywood Reporter.

Robins said the company has a “deep bench of experts to help fuel DraftKings’ continuing growth as a sports entertainment company.”

DraftKings and FanDuel announced a planned merger in November, which still requires federal anti-trust approval. The two companies handle about 90 percent of daily fantasy sports wagering.

DraftKings has now raised more than $830 million since its founding in 2011, according to a Boston Globe analysis of securities filings and media reports.

Other investors in DraftKings include Madison Square Garden Co. and the Kraft Group, which owns the New England Patriots. FanDuel is backed by KKR & Co. and Time Warner Inc., among others, according to Bloomberg’s report.

Recent Articles

History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

On July 25, 2015, Cole Hamels pitched a 13-strikeout no-hitter to lead the Phillies past the Cubs 5-0 at Wrigley Field—the first no-hitter at the stadium since 1972. Hamels threw 129 pitches, securing the final out when Odúbel Herrera made a dramatic, tumbling catch on a Kris Bryant fly ball to center field. This historic performance marked Hamels' final game in a Philadelphia uniform; after 10 seasons with the club, he was traded to the Rangers six days later.

On This Day In Sports History

On July 24, 1908, American Johnny Hayes won the Olympic marathon in London following a dramatic controversy. Italian runner Dorando Pietri entered White City Stadium well in the lead but collapsed five times from exhaustion. Track officials helped Pietri to his feet each time, enabling him to cross the finish line 32 seconds ahead of Hayes. However, after a protest was filed on the American's behalf, Pietri was disqualified for receiving assistance, and Hayes was awarded the victory.