Online sportsbook titan, FanDuel, is running it back on their hugely popular promotion, Kick of Destiny, at this year’s Super Bowl featuring former All-Pro tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
Millions Watching
Last year Rob Gronkowski missed his 25-yard field goal kick during a live Super Bowl commercial that would have given a $10 million bonus split amongst everyone who bet $5 or more on any pre-game Super Bowl prop bet through FanDuel.
The commercial occurred during the third quarter of the Chiefs/Eagles showdown and it showed Gronk in a generic blue and white (FanDuel colors) football uniform with assorted family members as well as his former teammate and Patriots kicker, Adam Vinatieri, supporting him.
The kick ended in a wide left shank but the announcer promptly told everyone, “But you still win. FanDuel is still giving customers a piece of $10 million in bonus bets.”
Despite the missed field goal attempt, all those who made a pre-game Super Bowl wager of $5 or more would receive a $5 bonus bet in their accounts.
Gronk Tries Again
The commercial proved so successful that FanDuel is bringing back the promotion and their brand ambassador, Rob Gronkowski, to try it all over again. Only this year there will be a few new twists, with FanDuel customers choosing whether Gronk will make the kick or not. Those on the winning side will get a share of the $10 million while those on the losing side will get nothing in their accounts. Unlike last year, no purchase will be required to enter.
“I can’t lie when I missed the Kick of Destiny during last year’s Super Bowl, it was devastating,” Gronkowski said in a press release hyping this year’s attempt. “I told the team at FanDuel I knew I could do better and needed a shot at redemption this year. I’m going to show America I can make that kick, even with all the pressure of doing it live in front of the entire country. No wind is going to stop me, and we’re going through the uprights this year for everyone who picks that I’m going to make the kick.”
Creating Hype
A series of commercials have already kicked off to hype the event with the first being a bearded, disheveled Gronk roaming a desert landscape in his dirty football uniform seeking redemption for his unsuccessful first attempt. At one point he balls up his fists and yells at the sky, “I don’t kick, I catch!”
But in the distance, a motorcycle is roaring towards Gronk, and when it catches up, who else but Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies) takes off his helmet and invites Gronk to hop on for another shot at destiny.
WWE superstar, John Cena, will also appear in the FanDuel commercials as Gronk’s arch-nemesis, playing a villain who is hoping Gronk will fail yet again. All of it adds up to plenty of publicity for one of America’s most popular online sportsbooks and one that will receive plenty of attention and new signups before the campaign is shuttered for good.
