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Don’t Let NFL Sunday Ticket Costs Blindside Your Business
Jun 19, 2026
For decades, NFL Sunday Ticket has been a game-day staple for sports bars, restaurants, and hospitality venues across the country. Many operators have built their Sunday business around giving fans a place to watch every out-of-market NFL game, all from a single platform.
That long-standing model is about to change.
Beginning with the 2026 NFL season, commercial access to NFL Sunday Ticket will move exclusively to EverPass, a streaming-based platform. For more than 30 years, restaurants and bars have accessed Sunday Ticket through DIRECTV's satellite service. As that arrangement comes to an end, many operators may face significant costs and technology upgrades just to maintain the viewing experience their customers have come to expect.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
If your establishment currently offers NFL Sunday Ticket, the transition to streaming could require a substantial investment in both equipment and infrastructure.
Depending on your current setup, you may need to:
- Upgrade internet service and network capacity
- Purchase and install new streaming hardware
- Add and manage another television platform alongside existing providers
- Reconfigure audio and video systems to support streaming technology
Industry estimates suggest the costs could be considerable. A commercial video switch with enough capacity to accommodate streaming can exceed $15,000. When equipment, installation, wiring, and labor are included, total upgrade costs can range from $30,000 to $40,000 per location—and that's before subscription fees.
Why the Hospitality Industry Is Concerned
Restaurants and bars are already navigating rising labor, insurance, food, and operating costs. This transition introduces a new set of challenges that many operators weren't anticipating.
Among the concerns being raised are:
- Streaming reliability across multiple screens
- Broadcast delays compared to traditional television feeds
- Increased complexity for staff managing game-day operations
- Limited broadband access and capacity in some rural areas
- Significant upfront costs with little transition support for small businesses
For establishments that rely on football season to drive revenue, these issues are more than an inconvenience—they have the potential to impact profitability and customer experience.
Advocacy Efforts Are Underway
The National Restaurant Association, state restaurant associations, and industry partners are working to educate Congress about the financial and operational impact this transition could have on restaurants and bars nationwide.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association is actively monitoring this issue and supporting efforts to ensure lawmakers understand the challenges facing hospitality operators as this change moves forward.
How You Can Help
If your business shows NFL games, now is the time to evaluate how these changes could affect your operation.
We encourage operators to:
- Assess the potential costs and infrastructure upgrades your business may need
- Share your concerns and projected expenses with the LRA so we can help tell the industry's story
- Contact your members of Congress and ask them to support efforts that protect restaurants and bars from unnecessary costs and disruptions
- Sign the Change.org petition supporting continued access to NFL Sunday Ticket through DIRECTV for commercial establishments
It is critical that policymakers hear directly from restaurant and hospitality operators. Real-world examples of how these costs and operational challenges affect your business can help strengthen the industry's advocacy efforts.
The LRA will continue to keep members informed as this issue develops and will advocate on behalf of Louisiana's restaurant and hospitality community every step of the way.
Questions or concerns? Contact us at communications@lra.org.