Varsity Brands to Pay $43.5 Million in Cheerleader Antitrust Deal

Varsity Brands LLC has agreed to pay $43.5 million to settle cheer companies’ claims that the athletic event sponsor tried to dominate the sport of competitive cheerleading.

The proposed settlement terms, filed March 24 in the US District Court of the Western District of Tennessee, come more than a month after the parties filed the settlement notice without disclosing any details. The settlement requires court approval.

Fusion Elite All Stars and several other cheer companies sued Varsity Brands in 2020 in a proposed class action for allegedly participating in an anti-competitive scheme to monopolize All Star Cheer, a cheerleading event, ...