On Friday, July 31, a panel of judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to put a ruling that ordered the NCAA to allow universities to offer student athletes a limited share of revenue on hold. The NCAA had requested this stay of the injunction on Friday, July 17, asking that the ruling be paused until the 9th Circuit could issue its opinion in the case.
In the brief order, the three-judge panel that reviewed the case said that it would stay the district court’s order, which was set to take effect on August 1. Judges Sidney R. Thomas, Jay S. Bybee, and Gordon J. Quist explained that “without expressing a view as to either party’s likelihood of success on the merits,” they are maintaining the status quo in the case until their ruling becomes official.
While acknowledging his disappointment, the plaintiff’s lead attorney Michael Hausfeld made it clear that the decision to grant the stay was not an indication of any potential problem for his side. However, the stay is still an important step for the NCAA, as the ruling gives the NCAA and its membership more time to account for the possibility of having to compensate athletes beyond measures taken to meet the full cost of attendance.