Today, DraftKings (Nasdaq: DKNG) announced the appointment of
baseball legend and entrepreneur Cal Ripken Jr. as a special
advisor to the board of directors. Ripken will lend strategic
insights to the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer on
key company initiatives and will become a DraftKings equity holder.
Ripken enjoyed a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball career and
is one of only ten players in history with more than 3,000 hits and
400 home runs. He has won a World Series championship, two AL MVP
Awards, two AL All-Star Game MVP Awards, two Gold Gloves, made 19
All-Star Game appearances and captured eight Silver Slugger Awards.
However, he is most well known for his incredible streak of 2,632
consecutive games played which made him baseball’s all-time “Iron
Man.” Since retiring from MLB after the 2001 season, Ripken
transitioned into a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, author
and corporate speaker.
“Cal Ripken Jr. embodies the qualities of perseverance and
integrity we value so highly at DraftKings, and on behalf of the
entire company I want to extend our warmest welcome to him as a
special advisor,” said Jason Robins, CEO and co-founder of
DraftKings. “We are inspired not only by Cal’s historic playing
days, but also his current work to cultivate new generations of
ballplayers. His unique combination of leadership, longevity and
business acumen ensure that we will receive invaluable strategic
counsel.”
Among other key business initiatives, Ripken will advise the
DraftKings board of directors and Chief Executive Officer on
company strategy, product development and marketing activities.
Just in time for the upcoming 2021 MLB Opening Day, Ripken will
begin his new role in familiar territory as baseball represents one
of DraftKings’ most popular sports across both daily fantasy and
sports betting.
“The game I played for so many years has greatly benefitted from
technological advances, and I cannot say enough about DraftKings’
importance as a catalyst, innovator and disruptor to enhance the
game for modern baseball fans and others,” said Cal Ripken Jr. “I
am honored to bring my experience to DraftKings through this
special advisor position and become part of a company that is
already essential for fan engagement while still only scratching
the surface of its full potential.”
Today, Ripken runs Ripken Baseball, a youth baseball business
that operates four tournament and instruction destinations called
“The Ripken Experience.” They are located his hometown of Aberdeen,
MD; Myrtle Beach, SC; Pigeon Forge, TN; and Orlando, FL at Disney
World. In addition, he has written several best-selling books and
become a sought-after public speaker. Ripken also serves as a
sports diplomacy envoy for the US Department of State and in that
capacity has made goodwill trips to China, Japan, Nicaragua and the
Czech Republic.
In 2001, the Ripken family established the Cal Ripken, Sr.
Foundation to honor the family’s patriarch. Over the last two
decades the foundation has grown nationally and has impacted over
10 million kids in underserved communities.
The foundation has constructed and donated 100 Youth Development
Parks across the nation, as well as 65 STEM centers in elementary
and middle schools to provide kids with safe places to play and
learn. After construction, the Foundation remains involved in these
communities through effective programs.
Ripken’s special advisor status is effective immediately.
Further information about DraftKings is available at
draftkings.com/about and the latest company updates are on Twitter
at @DraftKingsNews.
About DraftKings
DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming
company created to fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with
products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming and
digital media. Headquartered in Boston, and launched in 2012 by
Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman, DraftKings is the only
U.S.-based vertically integrated sports betting operator.
DraftKings is a multi-channel provider of sports betting and gaming
technologies, powering sports and gaming entertainment for 50+
operators in 17 countries. DraftKings’ Sportsbook is live with
mobile and/or retail betting operations in the United States
pursuant to regulations in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. DraftKings’
daily fantasy sports product is available in 8 countries
internationally with 15 distinct sports categories. DraftKings is
the official daily fantasy partner of the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and the
PGA TOUR as well as an authorized gaming operator of the NBA and
MLB and an official betting operator of the PGA TOUR.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release are “forward looking
statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
When used in this press release, the words “estimates,”
“projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,”
“intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,”
“propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or
the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or
results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of
which are outside DraftKings’ control, that could cause actual
results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional
risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ
from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see
DraftKings’ Securities and Exchange Commission filings. DraftKings
does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
media@draftkings.com
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