Barstool Sports claims an accounting firm and an advertising agency owe more than $4.2 million they failed to pay as part of a $6 million sponsorship deal that included advertisements for the accounting firm on the Pardon My Take podcast.
The suit, filed in New York federal court Thursday, alleges that Omega Accounting Solutions and O’Brien Sales & Marketing breached the deal, which was supposed to pay Barstool $6 million, in installments, through 2023. However, Barstool says it never received $4.2 million of that total. Omega owes more than $3.2 million, while O’Brien owes over $1 million, according to the complaint.
The deal was meant to position Omega—a California-based accounting firm—as a “marquee partner” of Barstool. Under the agreement, Omega was the title sponsor for the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl and also received ad placements across some of Barstool’s most popular shows, including Pardon My Take.
Additionally, Barstool says it “went above and beyond its obligations,” such as joining in on a press release announcing the agreement, even though that was not required and something Barstool “rarely does for advertising partners.”
Barstool made efforts to collect the money, sending invoices and emails, at least some of which were ignored, and at this point, both Omega and O’Brien have refused to pay up, the suit says.
“Omega reaped the benefits of this partnership yet failed to pay Barstool over $3.2 million that it owes,” the suit says. “Omega’s advertising agency, O’Brien, misappropriated over $1 million that it was contractually obligated to pay Barstool. Defendants’ refusal to honor their contractual commitments has left Barstool with no choice but to file this lawsuit.”
The suit seeks the more than $4.2 million Barstool claims it is owed, plus interest.
Representatives for Barstool, Omega, and O’Brien did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The suit comes not long after the company reached an expansive deal with Fox Sports under which Barstool founder Dave Portnoy will appear on the college football pregame show Big Noon Kickoff. Under that deal, other Barstool content and personalities will be featured on FS1.
There was immediate backlash to that deal, with sources telling Front Office Sports that Ohio State has barred Barstool from campus and Portnoy from entering Ohio Stadium for the school’s opening-week matchup against Texas on Saturday. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork subsequently claimed there was no ban, although Portnoy responded in a video saying he was indeed banned.
