Roger Goodell and NFL to get slapped with $6,000,000,000 fine over antitrust violation - Reports
Roger Goodell has faced several controversies throughout his tenure as NFL Commissioner. Aside from Spygate and Bountygate, he also dealt with issues implementing the league’s player conduct policy. The league also went through a lockout and dealt with player brain damage during his time at the helm.
Goodell and the NFL are embroiled in another concern regarding Sunday Ticket this time. The league must pay a hefty sum if proven guilty of violating the law.
What’s the issue Roger Goodell is facing regarding Sunday Ticket?
For proper context, football fans can subscribe to Sunday Ticket to access out-of-market games unavailable to local affiliates. This service is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
However, the concern started when Sunday Ticket switched providers. DirecTV carried the service until the 2022 NFL season. It’s an extension of their deal wherein the multichannel video programming distributor paid the league $1.5 billion annually for their exclusive distribution rights.
Last year, Sunday Ticket switched from DirecTV to YouTube TV and the Primetime Channels subscription option. The agreement of both parties will last until 2030.
Its exclusivity triggered an increase in subscription fees for the service, prompting a class action suit from residential and commercial subscribers.
The class action suit argued that Roger Goodell and the NFL violated United States antitrust laws, particularly the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prescribes economic competitiveness to avoid monopolies and unlawful restraints.
In 2019, United States Central District of California Judge Philip Gutierrez ruled in favor of the NFL. The complainants appealed, and Gutierrez decided there was enough merit to go on trial.
The six-week legal proceedings will start on February 22, eleven days after Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada. If the complainants win, damages against the NFL could go as high as $6 billion.
While it’s a substantial amount, it’s just a portion of the seven-year, $14 billion contract signed by the league and YouTube TV for Sunday Ticket. Their domestic media deals are also worth at least $120 billion.
Roger Goodell’s work earned him a lucrative fortune
The NFL’s unprecedented growth is undeniable. Aside from the rising amounts of broadcasting rights deals, the league is also expanding its international reach by playing regular season games in England, Germany, and Brazil (starting in 2024).
These efforts have rewarded Roger Goodell a hefty fortune over the years. With his contract as NFL Commissioner extended until 2027, his estimated earnings could reach $700 million. The expiration of that contract marks his 21st year at the league’s helm.