"Analyzing the Potential Financial Impact of the NFL Lawsuit on the Baltimore Ravens"

The Baltimore Ravens may be required to pay close to $500 million as a result of the NFL Sunday Ticket lawsuit.

The Baltimore Ravens, along with the other 31 NFL teams, may soon face a financial burden of nearly $500 million. A U.S. District Court jury recently found the league guilty of breaking antitrust laws by providing out-of-market games through NFL Sunday Ticket, driving up the cost of the subscription service and limiting it to DirecTV. The jury granted $4.7 billion in compensation to residential customers and $96 million to commercial customers. With the possibility of triple damages under federal antitrust regulations, the league could potentially owe as much as $14.39 billion.

If the NFL is required to pay that amount, the Ravens will incur a cost of $449.6 million, which is equivalent to the amount that every other team will have to pay. The NFL has announced its intention to challenge the decision, describing the lawsuit as "unfounded and lacking in justification."

"We are disappointed with the jury's verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit. We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which features all NFL games broadcast on free over-the-air television in the markets of the participating teams and national distribution of our most popular games, supplemented by many additional choices including RedZone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far the most fan friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment," the league said in a statement, per ESPN.

"We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit. We thank the jury for their time and service and for the guidance and oversight from Judge [Philip] Gutierrez throughout the trial."

The lawsuit pertains to 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid for Sunday Ticket through DirecTV between 2011 and 2022. The trial lasted for three weeks, during which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones testified on behalf of the league.

"Justice was done. The verdict upholds protection for the consumers in our class. It was a great day for consumers," plaintiffs attorney Bill Carmody said, per ESPN.

 Post-trial motions are scheduled to be heard on July 31, during which the NFL will submit a motion to overturn the verdict. All damages and modifications to the league's out-of-market games will be put on hold until the appeals process is completed.