DraftKings is moving out of its New York penthouse offices
An email from a real estate broker, sent to venture capital research firm CB Insights and first published in their newsletter, advertises an "excellent sublease" that "just came onto the market" at 400 Lafayette St in New York City.
Boston-based DraftKings had just signed a five-year lease for the 23,500 square foot fifth-floor penthouse in June.
DraftKings confirmed that the space was up for sublease, but said it has nothing to do with the legal threat it faces from the state and that the company plans to continue operations in New York.
"We have made an operational decision to sub-lease our space at 400 Lafayette Street. This is a business decision and we are committed to continued operations in New York moving forward," a DraftKings spokesperson told Business Insider in an email.
When DraftKings first took possession of the lease, it did try to sublease 10,000 square feet of the space for two years, but then changed its mind and as of November occupied the full space, according to New York real estate news site The Real Deal.
The asking rent was originally in the high $60s per square-foot, according to The Real Deal. The new sublease offer is asking $72 per square-foot, according to the email. The fifth floor listing has appeared on a few brokerage sites as well.
DraftKings is one of two fantasy sports startups facing legal action from the state of New York. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman won a ruling in December to ban both DraftKings and FanDuel from operating within the state while the court case was on hold.
An appelate court then overturned his ruling hours later, giving the startups an emergency reprieve.
Last week, the attorney general amended his lawsuit asking the sites to return its users' money. The two sides are now waiting patiently as the court decides whether DraftKings can remain operational with the pending case.