NFL Sunday Ticket for Business: Cost, Benefits and ROI in 2026
Key Takeaways
- How to show every out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season game.
- Pricing is customized to fit your venue and setup.
- Pair Sunday Ticket with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS for local games and more.
- Receive NFL RedZone for even more NFL action.
- Use our simple ROI guide to estimate your game-day opportunity.
What is NFL Sunday Ticket for business?
It is a premium out-of-market sports package, available in the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. The package lets eligible public venues show live, out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL games.
For the 2026 season, eligible commercial venues can get NFL Sunday Ticket through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS, with delivery available by DIRECTV satellite.
What games does NFL Sunday Ticket include?
With NFL Sunday Ticket, your venue can show the out-of-market matchups that local television leaves off the schedule, typically totaling around 130 to 140 games per season. That means a Packers fan in Florida, a Bills fan in California, or a Cowboys fan just about anywhere can watch their team’s full game at your venue. Giving more fans a reason to choose your business on game day.
For bars and restaurants, it may mean more teams on screen, more fans through the door, and more reasons for customers to stay from kickoff to the final whistle. You can welcome out-of-market fan groups, promote high-demand matchups, and create a reliable Sunday tradition that keeps customers coming back throughout the season.
Here is what NFL Sunday Ticket for business includes, how commercial pricing works, and how to decide whether it makes sense for your business.
NFL Sunday Ticket overview
Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
What is included? | Live, out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games |
Who is it for? | Eligible bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other commercial venues |
How is it delivered? | DIRECTV satellite |
How much does it cost? | Pricing is customized by venue |
Are nationally televised games included? | Not as part of Sunday Ticket; a qualifying DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package may be needed |
Is commercial licensing required? | Yes |
How much does NFL Sunday Ticket cost for a business?
Pricing depends on your venue size (FCO) and business classification.
Factors such as fire-code occupancy help determine the cost because a neighborhood restaurant and a packed casino sportsbook play in very different leagues. Your existing DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS service and selected setup may also shape the final NFL Sunday Ticket business cost and benefits!
If your customers already ask for out-of-market games—or you already know the game-day energy Sunday Ticket can create—compare your total seasonal cost with the contribution generated by additional Sunday customers to determine whether the package is financially viable for your venue.
Do businesses need a commercial NFL Sunday Ticket subscription?
Yes. But it is easy to get it through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS; eligible bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other commercial venues have the opportunity to access every out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season game.
On Sundays, the last thing you need is a complicated setup—or a room full of fans staring at a black screen. DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS brings NFL Sunday Ticket together with the service, billing and game-day support businesses need, all through one familiar provider. Our team can help you assess your current equipment and ensure a smooth installation process.
For your business, that means fewer vendor headaches, flexible delivery and dedicated support when the games matter most. You keep the fans fed, happy and cheering—we’ll help keep their teams on screen.
How to get an NFL Sunday Ticket for your business in 5 easy steps
- Tell us about your business. Share a few details about your bar, restaurant, hotel, casino, or other commercial venue, including its fire-code occupancy.
- Request your personalized quote. Because every venue is different, we’ll help you find NFL Sunday Ticket pricing and packaging that fit your business.
- Complete your game-day lineup. Pair NFL Sunday Ticket with a DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package that includes local broadcasts and essential sports channels, helping you cover more of the NFL action your customers want.
- Choose the right delivery setup. A DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS representative will review your existing equipment and help determine the most suitable way to bring the games to your screens.
- Get ready for kickoff. Schedule any required installation, test your screens, and start promoting the out-of-market matchups your customers can watch at your venue.
That’s it—you bring the fans, and DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS will help you get game day ready.
Is NFL Sunday Ticket worth it? How to calculate NFL Sunday Ticket ROI
NFL Sunday Ticket may bring more fans through the door—but the smartest way to judge its value is to turn game-day excitement into a clear head-count goal.
Start with one question: How many additional Sunday guests would it take for NFL Sunday Ticket to pay for itself?
Step 1: Add up your game-day investment
Include the costs connected to offering and promoting NFL Sunday Ticket:
- Your seasonal NFL Sunday Ticket price
- Installation or equipment expenses, if applicable
- Additional game-day labor
- Advertising and promotional costs
- Fan-club offers, giveaways or event expenses
For example, imagine your total seasonal investment looks like this:
Expense | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
NFL Sunday Ticket package | $6,000 |
Additional labor | $1,000 |
Promotions and advertising | $750 |
Other game-day expenses | $250 |
Total seasonal investment | $8,000 |
These figures are only an example. Use your personalized DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS quote and your own operating costs to build an accurate estimate. |
Step 2: Calculate the profit from each additional guest
Do not use the average check alone. A $35 sale does not put $35 toward recovering your investment because food, beverages, and other variable costs come out first.
Use this formula:
Average check − variable cost per guest = contribution per additional guest
Suppose your average Sunday check is $35 and the food, beverage, and other variable costs attached to that sale equal 35%:
- Average check: $35
- Variable costs: $12.25
- Contribution per guest: $22.75
That $22.75 is the amount each additional guest contributes toward paying for NFL Sunday Ticket and your related game-day expenses.
Step 3: Find your break-even head count
Now divide your total seasonal investment by the contribution from each additional guest:
$8,000 ÷ $22.75 = approximately 352 additional guest visits
Spread across 18 regular-season weeks, that becomes:
352 ÷ 18 = approximately 20 additional guests per Sunday
In this example, NFL Sunday Ticket would break even if it helped bring in about 20 additional guests each Sunday. After reaching that goal, the contribution from additional game-day customers can begin supporting your return.
Here is how the target changes at different average-check levels, assuming a 35% variable-cost rate and an $8,000 seasonal investment:
Average check | Contribution per guest | Seasonal break-even visits | Additional guests per Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
$25 | $16.25 | 493 | 28 |
$35 | $22.75 | 352 | 20 |
$50 | $32.50 | 247 | 14 |
The takeaway is simple: higher average checks can lower the number of additional customers needed to reach break-even. Specials, appetizers, beverage sales, and longer stays can all influence the value of each game-day visit.
Step 4: Check whether your venue has room for the goal
A break-even target only helps if your venue has enough unused capacity to welcome those additional fans. Estimate your available Sunday seats with this formula:
Seats × expected table turns × typical unused capacity = available guest visits
For example:
- 120 seats
- 1.5 table turns during the Sunday afternoon window
- 30% of capacity typically unused
120 × 1.5 × 30% = 54 available guest visits
If your break-even goal is 20 additional guests per Sunday and you typically have room for 54, the target may be realistic. If your venue is already full, the opportunity may come from increasing average checks, improving table turns, or encouraging customers to arrive earlier—not simply adding more people.
Step 5: Estimate the upside beyond break-even
Once you know your target, test a few attendance scenarios.
Using the example contribution of $22.75 per guest:
Additional guests each Sunday | Estimated seasonal contribution | Result after an $8,000 investment |
|---|---|---|
15 | $6,143 | $1,857 below break-even |
20 | $8,190 | $190 above break-even |
30 | $12,285 | $4,285 above break-even |
40 | $16,380 | $8,380 above break-even |
ROI figures are illustrative and do not guarantee results. |
Showing every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game gives your business opportunities to welcome displaced fans, host team meetups, and promote matchups that are unavailable on local television.
Track your results each Sunday through your POS system. Compare guest count, average check, and sales with similar Sundays from the previous year (if possible), then note which teams and promotions produce the strongest turnout. Count only the business you reasonably believe is additional—not customers who would have visited anyway.
Your numbers will tell the story. If NFL Sunday Ticket can bring in the head count you need, increase Sunday spending and create a crowd that returns week after week, it may be one of the hardest-working players in your game-day lineup.
Find your ideal NFL setup with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS
Every venue has its own game-day rhythm. Whether you run a neighborhood restaurant, a packed sports bar, or a multi-location operation, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS can help you create a setup that fits your screens, space, and customers.
Start with a DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package for local broadcasts and essential sports channels. Add NFL Sunday Ticket to show every out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season game, and get NFL RedZone for live look-ins at scoring opportunities and other exciting moments from around the league.
Together, they give your customers more teams to follow, more action to enjoy, and more reasons to spend Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or any other day at your business.
Get a commercial NFL Sunday Ticket quote
Tell us about your venue, fire-code occupancy, and current TV setup. A DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS representative will explain your available package and delivery options.
Already a DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS customer?
Review your current equipment and 2026 eligibility with your account representative.
NFL Sunday Ticket for Bars and Restaurants: FAQs
What is NFL Sunday Ticket?
2026 NFL Sunday Ticket is a premium package that gives eligible commercial establishments access to every live, out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL game, and you can get it through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS.
Can I get NFL Sunday Ticket for my bar or restaurant through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS?
Yes. Beginning with the 2026 NFL season, eligible commercial venues can subscribe through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS under its agreement with EverPass Media.
How much is NFL Sunday Ticket?
What does NFL Sunday Ticket include?
It includes every live, out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL game. It also includes NFL RedZone. It does not include local broadcasts, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, or postseason games.
When does NFL Sunday Ticket start?
NFL Sunday Ticket access starts on Sunday, September 13, 2026, coinciding with the first full slate of Sunday afternoon regular-season games. Confirm activation and installation timing with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS before Week 1 so your venue is ready for its first eligible games.
Which games are included with Sunday Ticket?
The package includes out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games that the local affiliate in your market doesn't show.
Do I need special equipment to show NFL Sunday Ticket at my business?
That depends on your selected delivery method and current setup. Most existing DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS customers should be able to continue using their current commercial equipment, but a representative can help you confirm your venue’s requirements.
Can I still watch out-of-market NFL games on DIRECTV without Sunday Ticket?
Your DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package may include selected local or nationally televised games, but NFL Sunday Ticket provides every out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season matchup.
What happens if I show NFL Sunday Ticket at my business without a commercial license?
A residential subscription does not grant commercial exhibition rights. Unauthorized use can lead to service termination and potential legal or financial consequences. Obtain a properly licensed commercial package for your venue. It is easy!
Can I show NFL Sunday Ticket at multiple business locations?
Does NFL Sunday Ticket include NFL RedZone?
Yes. NFL RedZone is included with your NFL Sunday Ticket subscription. Sunday Ticket lets fans watch full out-of-market games, while RedZone jumps between live scoring opportunities and other big moments around the league.
Are the playoffs and Super Bowl included?
No. NFL Sunday Ticket covers out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games. Playoff games and the Super Bowl air through other networks and services, so pair Sunday Ticket with a DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package that supports a more complete NFL lineup.
Can a business use a residential subscription?
Residential subscriptions are designed for personal viewing at home, not commercial exhibition. Bars, restaurants, and other venues need a properly licensed business package to show NFL games to customers. DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS can help you get the right service for your venue.
How early should a business order before NFL season?
Does NFL Sunday Ticket include local games?
No. NFL Sunday Ticket focuses on out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games. Add a DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS package that includes your local broadcasts to help cover the hometown games your customers expect.
What affects commercial NFL Sunday Ticket pricing?