Yankees and Polymarket come together on surprising partnership despite murky future
The Yankees aren’t afraid to jump into bed with a prediction market.American sports’ most prestigious franchise announced an official partnership with prediction market brand Polymarket on Thursday, the second of its kind after the Mets revealed a deal with NoVig last week.Polymarket will now be featured on advertisements throughout Yankee Stadium before and after games, while also appearing on LED branding behind home plate during Yankees games aired on YES Network.Polymarket allows people to buy and sell contracts on real-life events, ranging from sports to elections and many more obscure topics.It’s shocking to see the Yankees partner with a prediction market brand, as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul are suing Polymarket’s main competitor, Kalshi.“We are excited to begin a relationship with Polymarket — Major League Baseball’s predictionmarket partner,” Yankees Senior Vice President of Partnerships Michael Tusiani told The Post.“Through signage and fan experience opportunities, we look forward to elevating Polymarket’sbrand awareness both at Yankee Stadium and across our fan base.”The suit alleges that Kalshi has run an unlicensed sports betting business in New York.Polymarket is not named in the lawsuit, and the exchange already has a footing in baseball’s national pastime as the official prediction market of Major League Baseball.Front Office Sports previously reported that the deal between Polymarket and MLB is worth up to $300 million over three years.MLB does have an escape hatch, though, if the courts rule prediction markets violate state laws, which it appears that New York is beginning to lay the groundwork for with its Kalshi lawsuit.It is unclear if the Yankees have a similar exit provision as MLB does.
“We are proud to become a partner of one of the most iconic teams, not just in baseball, but inall of sports,” said Ari Borod, President of Sports Business Development at Polymarket.“Yankee...