Sports & Stadiums

Overview

Sports franchises inspire enthusiasm and generational loyalty. World-class athletes bring arenas to their feet. Innovators and entrepreneurs create one-of-a-kind products and experiences to amplify the thrill of competition.

Together, they are engines of economic development and cultural capital, and Nixon Peabody works with clients throughout the sports domain to maximize their competitive advantage, capitalize on emerging trends, and comply with the regulations of this high-profile and high-performance world.

Services

Our team partners with collegiate and professional sports venues, teams, their coaches and athletes, and the businesses that support them. NP helps to develop, protect, and commercialize brands and cutting-edge inventions; advise on the construction, development, financing, and operations of storied athletic facilities across the nation; monetize new streaming options; resolve disputes and advise on litigation matters; and navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape that governs competition around the world.

We also leverage our cross-industry and interdisciplinary knowledge to support venues, teams, and athletes regarding emerging immigration matters, Title IX compliance issues, as well as new opportunities and implications arising from the NCAA’s Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) guidelines.

We represent state and local governments, professional sports leagues, investment banks, investors, and lenders in the construction, development, financing, and operation of arenas, ballparks, and stadiums, and related facilities and infrastructure.

In the esports arena, our team helps companies, players, and talent navigate potential legal issues and drive long-term success.

Representative Experience

• Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC): We represented BASOC in connection with numerous events, including San Francisco’s bids for the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Our team has extensive experience in all aspects of the bid and organizational process, and includes one attorney who served on the BASOC Board, Executive Committee, and as the Ethics Compliance Officer (during the 2012 bidding process). We have drafted state legislation for a financial backstop, as well as significant portions of the bid documents, US Candidate City presentation materials for the United States Olympic Committee site evaluation teams and Board of Directors, press releases, and other submissions related to the 2012 bid.
• Bay Area Host Committee: To maximize the economic and community benefits associated with hosting global sporting events, we are advising the nonprofit on preparations leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LX, and other events. Our cross-disciplinary team is helping the organization on a range of issues, including implementing cybersecurity and privacy preparedness plans, and developing partnerships across sports leagues and Bay-area businesses to facilitate the Committee’s long-term growth.
• NFL Team: Advise professional football team in connection with real estate and land use matters. We also advise the storied franchise on immigration matters.
• Professional sports stadiums: Underwriters’ counsel in connection with the financing of Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco 49ers), Barclays Center (Brooklyn Nets), MetLife Stadium (New York Jets and Giants), Gillette Stadium (New England Patriots), Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings), Target Field (Minnesota Twins), and Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee Bucks), as well as represented the investment bank in connection with the development, construction, financing, and subsequent refinancings of bonds issued to provide funding for Citi Field (New York Mets and New York Yankees).
• City of Los Angeles: Served as city’s bond counsel in connection with the financing of convention center facilities—replacing facilities slated for demolition to accommodate a new NFL football stadium—and other aspects of the stadium project.
• Erie County/Ralph Wilson Stadium: Advised Erie County, New York, in negotiations with the Buffalo Bills on the financing of proposed renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park and a related extension of the stadium lease.
• World-renowned UFC champion: Represented on a licensing and joint venture for an innovative sports recovery line.
• NBA team: Worked with the team in numerous transactions, including the launch of their season ticket giveaway and vendor agreements for the NBA Playoffs.
• Professional athletes: Represent a variety of athletes on all legal matters including Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) policies, endorsement agreements, appearance agreements, and joint ventures and licensing agreements.
• Easton Diamond Sports/Rawlings: Represent in several patent litigation cases in the Southern District of Florida, District of Arizona, Central District of California, and the US International Trade Commission regarding alleged patent infringement of composite baseball and softball bats.
• St Andrews Links: Advise the oldest and most renowned golf course in the world, in trademark infringement matters.
• Pebble Beach: Handled multiple trademark enforcement matters on behalf of Pebble Beach Company.