Should the Edmonton Oilers make a comeback in the Stanley Cup Final, it would result in a gigantic payday for two Colorado sports bar owners.
Jeremy Malone and Judson Dymond, who own the The Sportsbook Bar & Grill in Greenwood Village, placed a three-leg parlay in January. Their $1,000 bet was on the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, Real Madrid to win the Champions League and Edmonton to claim the Stanley Cup.
The potential payout on that Colorado sports betting wager? $584,000!
Winning the bet would help rebuild Colorado bar
Just a couple weeks after the two placed the three-leg parlay, an arsonist burned down their bar, Malone told the Associated Press.
“It was a very surreal phone call. You get there and you see water pouring out of the front of your building because of all the sprinklers. It’ll be built back better. It keeps getting pushed back because of city stuff, permit stuff. I feel bad for our employees. A lot of these people are with us five, six, seven years.”
Luckily, insurance is covering the cost of rebuilding the bar, as well as revenue loss and employee pay.
But winning the bet would certainly speed up the process.
The sports bar misses out on one of its busiest seasons
The bar burned down right before the NFL’s conference championship games.
According to Dymond, that is one of their busiest weekends of the football season. It also meant the bar’s doors remained shut for the Super Bowl.
The original goal was to open in March during the NCAA Tournament, another popular event for patrons. That date was eventually pushed back to May and then delayed after more damage was found, Dymond told 9News.
“Frustrating and angry. Every time we talk to contractors or our landlords, we find out there’s something else or another delay. Then we update our staff, and it’s update after update, and they don’t want to hear it anymore because it’s never good.”
Arsonist tried to break into ATM and safe before starting fire
When Dymond arrived to the scene, he saw the front door of the bar was broken down.
According to CBS News, surveillance footage showed the arsonist attempting to break into an ATM at the bar. When that failed, he went through different drawers before going to the back office and attempting (and failing) to get into a safe. Then he started the fire. Dymond told CBS News earlier this year:
“It’s like starting a new business all over again. Cost-wise, I mean it could get to $1 million.”
Jerrell Q Bailey faces charges of arson, burglary, criminal mischief, theft, and menacing. It’s worth noting that on the same day he allegedly broke into The Sportsbook, he also reportedly broke into Fuji Hibachi And Suchi, a nearby restaurant. He is accused of starting a fire in that restaurant as well.
It’s also believed that when he was done with The Sportsbook, he broke into Rodizio Grill.
Bar owners made partial hedge bet
The $584,000 payout would not only help the owners rebuild The Sportsbook, it would also boost the owners’ spirits after an incredibly tough year.
The Oilers, so far, are not doing their part.
On June 2, Edmonton beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final. That same weekend, Real Madrid won the Champions League, Malone told the AP.
“It was a good weekend.”
Unfortunately, the Oilers find themselves in a 2-0 hole in the Final heading into Thursday’s Game 3.
Florida shut out Edmonton 3-0 in Game 1 on June 8. In Game 2, the Oilers started off strong with a goal from Mattias Ekholm, but then the Panthers scored three unanswered goals to capture the win. Edmonton had just 19 shots on goal that game, including just seven in the first two periods.
Florida’s defense has been superb so far. That will need to change in order for the two bar owners to win their parlay.
It’s worth noting that Malone and Dymond did make a partial hedge bet on the Panthers. That way, if Edmonton can’t overcome a 2-0 series deficit, the owners will still make a small profit, Malone told the AP.
“We made the (larger) bet in the beginning. We’re gamblers when it comes down to it. We still want the Oilers.”
