Fort Worth’s ‘Ricky Bobby’ restaurant becoming ‘Pole Position’ following lawsuit

As part of the settlement to a lawsuit brought by Sony Pictures, Rick’s Cabaret has changed the name of its ‘Ricky Bobby’ restaurant in north Fort Worth to ‘Pole Position Sports Saloon and Restaurant.’ The studio behind the 2006 Will Ferrell film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby filed a trademark lawsuit in Texas federal court in March. In the suit, Sony demands an injunction, profits from the restaurants and other punitive and exemplary damages.

In May, Rick’s estimated $2 million to $3 million in higher pre-opening and legal costs across 3Q14 and 4Q14, reflecting in part the company’s plan to settle a number of lawsuits, including the Sony suit. This will result in approximately $3.2 million in one-time legal charges in the Houston-based company’s third quarter. The settlement cost $20,000, according to the company, which also operates a number of Rick’s Cabaret locations, which has several sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to the lawsuit: “The Establishment [Ricky Bobby Sports Saloon] features television screens, live music and other events. At the Establishment, waitresses are known as ‘Smokin’ Hotties’ (a direct reference to the wife of the Picture’s fictional Ricky Bobby character, who repeatedly refers to his spouse as his ‘Smokin’ Hot Wife’).”