More than ten years ago, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority approved a development project plan to construct a 2.9 million square foot, state-of-the-art mega-mall, then named Xanadu, in East Rutherford at the Meadowlands Sports Complex . Since then, the project has yielded only controversy, lawsuits, and postponements. After changes in its name, developer, and financial plan, the project may finally be slated for completion. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has approved a plan to issue up to $350 million in bonds …
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Sports Litigation Case Law Update March 2015 Part 2 of 2
As mentioned in part 1 of this months sports litigation case law update here we visit a hockey locker room in upstate New York, and go back to Texas for a youth baseball field.
High School Hockey Player Assumed the Risk of Being Stepped On By a Skate in the Locker Room
Litz v. Clinton Central Sch. Dist., 2015 WL 1270085 (4th Dept., March 20, 2015)
Plaintiff high school hockey player was walking barefoot in the locker room when his teammate, who still …
Continue ReadingGeorgia Tech Opens Concessions to Bitcoin
On Wednesday, October 1, the Georgia Tech athletic association announced its partnership with BitPay to provide bitcoin as an alternate currency at football games.
Athletic director Mike Bobinski stated “we are always looking to lead in innovative ways, and this partnership with BitPay gives us an opportunity to do so by integrating this new technology at a sports venue and in the daily lives of our students.” The open-source online currency will be available for use on concessions in the student section of Bobby …
Continue ReadingFacebook Fan Battles Ferrari
Amateur race car driver Sammy Wasem started a Ferrari fan page on Facebook when he was 15, and over time, it became an enormous success. In fact, he and his father Oliver earned a congratulatory email from Ferrari in March of 2009, when his site passed the 500,000-fan marker. However, the email read, “legal issues force us [Ferrari] in taking over the formal administration of the fan page.” And now, Wasem finds himself in a legal battle that may define the extent of online freedom …
Continue ReadingNew York Task Force on Jockey Health and Safety to Make Recommendations in March 2014
The New York Task Force on Jockey Health and Safety, formed in 2013, was created to “assess, investigate and research issues involving safety and health of jockeys who regularly race at the Thoroughbred racetracks in New York State.” The task force, comprised of seven Governor-appointees includes various professionals from the racing industry, including attorneys, jockeys, and risk management professionals and is tasked to evaluate the current status of jockey benefits, including “health, life, disability, pension, or other similar benefits” and how the racing industry can …
Continue ReadingThe Ugly Truth of Public Financing
Despite research showing stadiums are a poor use of tax dollars, professional sports complexes are continually financed by cities, counties, and states. In the most recent example, Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves announced the team will move to a neighboring county after being promised $300 million in public funds for a new stadium, but some politicians plan to oppose the deal.
For years, economists have been telling a different story than team owners want taxpayers to believe. Owners argue that a new stadium will …
Continue ReadingABA’s Blawg 100 – Nominations Due August 9th
The ABA Journal is putting together its annual list of the 100 best legal blogs, based on reader votes. As publishers of the Sports and Entertainment Law Insider, we are proud to be considered for this prestigious list — and we would be honored if you would help. If you enjoy visiting the Sports and Entertainment Law Insider, and believe it is worthy of industry recognition, please click here to visit the ABA Blawg 100 Amici page and nominate us before the August …
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