Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort and the Detroit Lions announced recently they would be partnering for the upcoming season.
The deal includes a presenting partnership for Soaring Eagle on “Inside the Den” television specials and the weekly “Inside the Pride” episodes. The Mount Pleasant casino will also get naming rights on Power Hour presented by Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort at Ford Field on game days.
It’s the third deal the Lions have with a Michigan casino or sportsbook. BetMGM and WynnBET each have partnerships with the team and a heavy presence at Ford Field.
What the deals mean for the operators and the Lions is simple: money and exposure. But what do these deals mean for Michigan sports bettors and fans?
Soaring Eagle partners with Lions
Power Hour is the most fan-friendly bit of the partnership. It includes the “Spin It to Win It” and “Roar-aoke” games that are already part of the Lions gameday experience, but now the prizes will be coming from Soaring Eagle.
That includes a free night stay at the hotel, free play, concert tickets and resort credit, among other things. There will also be a Fan Cave on the 300-level concourse, and a sweepstakes during the preseason — which begins Friday, Aug. 12 — for a chance to win an on-field experience.
The rest of the partnership will just mean fans will see Soaring Eagle mentions more often. Although, those mentions will be coming during some added Lions content throughout the season.
“Inside the Den” will be a three-episode series that looks at behind-the-scenes stories within the organization. It will air on Lions TV Network affiliate stations starting this week. The other two episodes will air the weeks of Aug. 15 and Sept. 5.
“Inside the Pride” is a new weekly TV show, also on the Lions TV Network. The following stations are included in the network:
- Detroit (WJBK-TV)
- Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek (WXMI-TV)
- Flint-Saginaw-Bay City (WNEM-TV)
- Lansing (WSYM-TV)
- Traverse City-Cadillac (WFQX-TV)
- Marquette-Escanaba (WJMN-TV)
- Toledo, OH (WUPW-TV)
BetMGM is Lions official sports betting partner
The Lions announced before the 2020 season that BetMGM Michigan would be their official sports betting partner. With MGM Grand Detroit already having quite a presence at Ford Field, this came as little surprise.
With this partnership, BetMGM became the presenting sponsor for Lions Bingo and Lions Perks, which immediately made a difference for fans. Lions Bingo, which is a predictive game played through the Lions app, was introduced in 2019. When BetMGM came on board, players had the opportunity to become eligible for cash prizes and future all-expense paid trips to MGM properties around the country.
Lions Perks is also housed on the Lions app, and like Lions Bingo, existed prior to the partnership. But when BetMGM came on board in 2020, fans using Lions Perks could get rewards and special offers at BetMGM and the BetMGM Sports Lounge at MGM Grand Detroit.
The MGM Tunnel Club is an exclusive suite inside of Ford Field. Members get food, beer and wine, field level seats with dedicated in-seat service, and access to the club three hours prior to kickoff.
WynnBET named an official sportsbook and gaming partner in 2021
The WynnBET partnership has the most obvious fan benefits when it comes to the gameday experience, as it includes a sports bar near Section 222.
WynnBET Sports Bar includes televisions and a live odds ticker.
Like MGM, WynnBET is connected to a game on the Lions app with prizes including trips to Wynn Las Vegas, Lions season and single-game tickets, Lions shop credit and bonus bets within the WynnBET app.
