NFL Sunday Ticket Case

In re National Football League's "Sunday Ticket" Antitrust Litigation, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (on appeal from C.D. Cal.)

ChargedPretrialTrialVerdictSentencingAppealLiability verdict reinstated; new damages trial ordered Oct. 30

Oct 30, 2026

A Ninth Circuit panel reversed the judgment for the NFL, holding the district court abused its discretion by excluding the subscribers' expert testimony, but affirmed the order for a new trial on damages. It remanded with instructions to reinstate the jury's liability verdict and hold a new trial limited to damages. The earlier damages award is not reinstated. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)

Next up

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Court calendars change.

Remand to the district court for a new damages trial; no date set.

Follow without an accountAdd court dates to your calendar RSS feed of updates

What legal commentators are saying

No commentator coverage logged yet.

The case

A class of residential and commercial DirecTV subscribers alleges the NFL's agreements over the Sunday Ticket out-of-market game package violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and inflated prices. In 2024 a jury found the NFL liable and awarded $4.6 billion to the residential class and $96 million to the commercial class. U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez then excluded the subscribers' expert testimony, granted the NFL judgment as a matter of law, and alternatively ordered a new trial on damages. The NFL disputes the claims.

Business & Tech, civil, federal court in CA

Docket: No. 24-5493 (9th Cir.); D.C. No. 2:15-ml-02668-PSG-SK (C.D. Cal.)

Who's who

Philip S. Gutierrez, district judge (C.D. Cal.)

Anthony D. Johnstone, Ninth Circuit judge; wrote the opinion

Holly A. Thomas, Ninth Circuit judge

Joan H. Lefkow, district judge sitting by designation

Court filings

Ninth Circuit opinion (reversed in part, affirmed in part, remanded), 9th Cir., Oct 30, 2026

Timeline

Oct 30, 2026ReportedNinth Circuit reinstates the liability verdict and orders a damages-only retrial. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
Mar 9, 2026ReportedNinth Circuit hears argument. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)

Sources

Opinion, Ninth Inning Inc. v. National Football League, Inc., No. 24-5493, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2026-10-30
Appellate court revives 'Sunday Ticket' antitrust verdict against the NFL, AP News, 2026-10-30