The Chicago Bulls didn’t make many moves during free agency this offseason, but just signed a major deal with an Illinois casino.
The team released a statement naming Wind Creek Casino Chicago Southland as an official partner. The casino will open in September 2023. It is located about 20 miles south of the Windy City.
Brett Pinkston, chief operating officer of Wind Creek hospitality, spoke about the importance of spreading awareness of the new casino before its grand opening:
“As a new brand coming to the Chicagoland market, we believed it was important to establish a name for ourselves and a level of credibility with the local market as quickly as possible.
“Being a native of the region, I can’t imagine a better way to accomplish that task than to partner with the Bulls organization and introduce ourselves to one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in professional sports. It lets us enter the market with a huge voice.”
What does the partnership mean for fans?
Fans in attendance at the United Center for Bulls games will notice new in-arena entertainment featuring the Wind Creek brand. This includes marketing, hospitality and Bulls social media posts promoting the southside casino.
In future seasons, fans will have the chance to enter a social media sweepstakes. The grand prize will be a trip to one of Wind Creek’s casino and hotel resorts.
The ‘Hi-Lo’ contest will be played on the jumbotron during Bulls games. Fans will guess if the next jersey to appear on screen will be higher or lower than the jersey previously shown. Winners will receive a complimentary bag of Garrett Popcorn.
Here’s what Mark Levitt, Bulls vice president of business development, had to say about the deal:
“We are excited to partner with Wind Creek over the next few seasons to bring fans new in-arena competitions, social content and sweepstakes. This new partnership will support our ongoing efforts to further elevate the gameday experience for Bulls fans at the United Center and across our social platforms.”
About Wind Creek Chicago
The Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians owns and operates Wind Creek. The group actively operates three casino and hotel resorts in Alabama, one in Pennsylvania and two in the Caribbean.
Its Illinois casino will be located between East Hazel Crest and Homewood. The $440 million project is expected to create 800 jobs and will have the following features:
- 70,000-square-foot gaming floor
- 1,300 slot machines
- 50+ table games
- 15,800-square-foot entertainment venue for concerts and other events
- 252-room hotel
