It's Opening Day — and 3 MLB Teams Are Being Sued for Hiding Fees on Tickets

Baseball is back. But before you buy tickets this season, you should know that three MLB teams are being sued for allegedly cheating fans out of millions of dollars by hiding mandatory fees until the last step of checkout.

The Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals are all facing class action lawsuits over a practice known as "drip pricing" — advertising one ticket price, then tacking on hidden fees right before you pay.

All three lawsuits describe the same playbook. Advertise a low price, wait until the fan has picked their seats and committed to buying, then reveal mandatory fees at the final checkout screen. The lawsuits span multiple years of ticket sales, from at least May 2022 through July 2024, and cover purchases made online and through the MLB app.

Here's what's happening with each case.

San Francisco Giants

A class action was filed against San Francisco Baseball Associates LLC in California federal court on January 28, 2026. Lead plaintiff Juan Flores says he bought two tickets to a Giants-Padres game that were advertised at $10 each. By the time he got to checkout, the total was $29 after hidden fees appeared. According to the complaint, the Giants allegedly deceived hundreds of thousands of fans before they stopped charging undisclosed fees in July 2024. The lawsuit demands the Giants refund the fees to affected ticket buyers.

Boston Red Sox

A class action was filed against the Boston Red Sox Baseball Club LP and Fenway Sports Group Holdings LLC in Massachusetts federal court in January 2026. The lawsuit alleges the Red Sox used drip pricing and junk fees that violated Massachusetts consumer protection law. Mandatory "Per-Ticket Fees" and "Order Fees" allegedly raised costs by as much as 150% over what fans first saw. The plaintiffs say the team didn't show the true total until late in checkout. They're seeking damages, prejudgment interest, and attorneys' fees.

Washington Nationals

A class action was filed against the Washington Nationals in D.C. federal court on September 5, 2025. The complaint alleges tickets advertised at $9 were actually $11.25 after undisclosed processing fees — about a 25% increase. The lawsuit claims the Nationals' drip pricing misled consumers by hiding the true cost until the purchase was nearly complete. The team reportedly stopped charging these fees in July 2024 but has not refunded fans. Plaintiffs are seeking damages under D.C. consumer protection law.

Why This Is Happening Now

All three teams reportedly stopped charging hidden fees in 2024, around the time new federal and state regulations kicked in. The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees went into effect in May 2025, requiring businesses that sell live-event tickets to show the total price upfront. California's Honest Pricing Act took effect in July 2024. And Massachusetts issued its own junk fee regulations in September 2025.

But stopping the practice didn't erase what already happened. None of the three teams have refunded fans the fees they were allegedly charged. Across all three cases, plaintiffs are seeking refunds, damages, and legal costs.

No Settlements Yet — Here's How to Stay Updated

None of the three lawsuits have reached a settlement. There are no deadlines to file a claim at this time.

Download ClassyAction to stay updated on all three lawsuits and get notified when the payouts drop.