Sports Industry Practice Attorney Advertising
Our clients are professional teams and their owners and investors, stadium and arena operators, and financing entities. We also advise amateur teams, university athletic departments, athletes, coaches, equipment manufacturers, and others in: Venue financing and development Licensing, merchandising, and intellectual property issues Labor and employment contracts Coach/athlete matters, compliance, and endorsements Acquisition of ownership interests in teams Naming rights and sponsorships Litigation, dispute resolution, and related counseling AREAS OF FOCUS Stadium/Arena Financing Ballard Spahr is known for its work in the financing of sports facilities and other large event venues. We have the skill and experience to handle the often complex issues related to municipal finance, including local laws and federal tax and securities regulations. Our attorneys have a track record of success working with developers, government officials, and others on arenas and complexes. Facility/Venue Development Our attorneys work with team and stadium owners on site selection, acquisition of land, and the development of various sports and entertainment facilities, including the construction of sports facilities and plans for surrounding mixed-use development. We also help clients negotiate the terms of design and construction contracts. Intellectual Property/Naming Rights and Sponsorships We help protect the lucrative intellectual property related to team operations. We advise on licensing and merchandising, naming rights, and special events and promotions. We handle media and technology matters, including copyright and right-of-publicity issues in the use of film and images; negotiate agreements with broadcast affiliates; and counsel clients on entertainment law issues. Coach/Athlete Issues and Compliance We represent professional teams and universities, as well as coaches, general managers, and university athletic directors, in contract negotiation, team and individual endorsements, tax and estate planning, public appearances, and the establishment of nonprofit foundations. We advise amateur athletes and university athletic departments on eligibility and compliance with the NCAA and other governing bodies. Litigation, Dispute Resolution, and Counseling The firm s litigators are powerful trial advocates. Just as important, they excel at preventive counseling. Our experience includes representing sports teams in lawsuits with season ticket holders as well as in litigation involving demonstrations and protests at sports facilities. We have helped sports teams develop policies governing free speech activities in and around stadiums and arenas. In addition, we have represented a professional sports league in a dispute concerning the relocation of a franchise. Labor and Employment Our attorneys counsel teams on salary caps, collective bargaining agreements, and other labor issues. We handle teams employee benefits and executive compensation work, including executive employment agreements, tax issues associated with such agreements, and issues involving retirement and health and welfare plans. We also assist with the benefits aspects of team-related M&A transactions. Sports Transactions We advise on the acquisition and disposition of sports teams, franchises, and properties, as well as on joint ventures and the establishment of new sports entities. Our attorneys have managed sales and acquisition projects for clients ranging from major and minor league teams to individuals seeking to acquire professional sports teams and facilities. Tax Our tax attorneys offer sophisticated tax planning and structuring for investors, sports teams, athletes, and stadium owners, and they handle disputes at all levels of government.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE Stadium Financing and Development An MLB team in the development of a new ballpark. Our work involved the condemnation of a portion of the development site by the city, a complex lease and financing structure, public funding from governmental and quasi-governmental authorities, shared parking rights with other sports franchises, and complex community group agreements. Local government entities in the financing and development of more than $1.4 billion of Olympic venues, infrastructure projects, and resort and real estate projects that directly and indirectly supported the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. An NFL team in the acquisition of land and the development, financing, and construction of a new football stadium. Redevelopment officials in their financial support of a stadium for a city s AAA baseball team. Our work included serving as bond counsel on the original financing and as disclosure counsel on the refinancing. A city redevelopment agency in its financial support of an arena for an NBA franchise. Tax An MLB team in negotiations with investors and the limited partnerships that own the team regarding the tax aspects of its ballpark lease. A principal investor in his acquisition of a limited partnership interest in an MLB team. Franchise/Team Acquisitions An investor in acquiring an NHL franchise and in securing ownership interests in an NBA team. An investor, as part of his legal team, in acquiring an NFL team. An investor, as part of his legal team, in acquiring an MLB team and in negotiations with a stadium authority. Free Speech Litigation and Counseling Affiliates of a company in several lawsuits arising out of efforts by protest groups to demonstrate in parking lots and entrances at a sports and entertainment arena. In one case, we successfully obtained an injunction preventing such protests. In another, we obtained the dismissal of a federal constitutional claim brought by protesters on the ground that the city s involvement with the arena was insufficient to constitute state action for purposes of a Section 1983 claim. An MLB team on its policies governing the display of banners at its ballpark. Sports Team Litigation An NHL team and related entities in a putative class action brought in federal court by certain season ticket holders based on the sale of tickets to a special game. A professional sports league in an antitrust and defamation action arising out of the attempted sale and relocation of a team. Labor and Employment An MLB team in various employment issues, including drafting executive employment agreements, overseeing tax issues associated with such agreements, and handling 401(k) plan, pension plan, and health and welfare plan matters. Two professional sports franchises in labor counseling and labor disputes. The developers of a sports arena in labor issues. IP/Naming Rights and Sponsorships An MLB team in negotiating naming rights and a sponsorship deal with a major beverage company. An MLB team on all intellectual property aspects of team operations, such as merchandising and new products, and its ballpark on issues related to special events and promotions, copyright and right-of-publicity issues involving the use of film footage and photographic displays, and agreements with broadcast affiliates. An MLB team on various entertainment law issues, many of which involved working directly with Major League Baseball. A professional sports league in intellectual property matters related to counterfeit merchandise. A company in negotiating the naming rights agreement for an NFL stadium. An NFL team on the naming rights negotiations with a bank.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS Ballard Spahr attorneys have represented or worked on projects associated with the following professional sports teams, leagues, and facilities: Arizona Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Rattlers Atlanta Hawks/Atlanta Spirit LLC Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Ravens Colorado Rockies Lakewood BlueClaws Lehigh Valley IronPigs Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Phillies Phoenix Suns Reading Phillies San Francisco Giants Tucson Toros Washington Redskins Major League Baseball National Basketball Association National Football League PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS AND MAJOR SPORTS LEAGUES Chase Field Citizens Bank Park Comcast Spectacor, L.P. Delta Center FedEx Field Hi Corbett Field Hohokam Stadium Lincoln Financial Field Lindquist Field (Ogden City) Maverik Center (formerly E Center) Oriole Park at Camden Yards Philips Arena Rice-Eccles Stadium Scottsdale Stadium Spring Mobile Ballpark Sun Devil Stadium Tempe Diablo Stadium Tucson Electric Park US Airways Center Various Salt Lake City Olympic facilities Wells Fargo Center SPORTS FACILITIES Atlanta Baltimore Bethesda Boulder Delaware Denver Las Vegas Los Angeles New Jersey New York Philadelphia Phoenix Salt Lake City San Diego Washington, DC www.ballardspahr.com
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