December 30, 2008
As we approach the end of Connecticut Sports Law’s inaugural year, I have compiled a list of the top story lines and accompanying blog posts from 2008. Thank you for your readership and support and I look forward to another year covering the intersection of sports and the law.
1. UConn and Notre Dame agree to a football series, but not before involving the General Assembly and inciting legions of fans who wonder what gives Notre Dame the right.
UConn-Notre Dame: How Far Should Notre Dame Go to Play in the House that Rockne Built?
UConn Football: Series With Notre Dame Still Under Consideration
UConn v. Notre Dame Update: General Assembly Clears Path to South Bend
2. University of New Hampshire Quarterback and Massachusetts Native Ricky Santos tries to catch on with NFL team, but is impeded by NFL rule.
NFL Rule Costs UNH Quarterback Golden Opportunity
3. Coaching contracts and the trend of buyout clauses, from Jim O’Brien to Rich Rodriguez to Greg Schiano.
Power Struggle: Rodriguez, Schiano Demonstrate Change in Collegiate Football Coaching Contracts
Three Million Reasons for Carefully Drafting Coaching Contracts
4. Amateurism in collegiate athletics, from O.J. Mayo to Sonny Vaccaro to collegiate baseball to Caleb Campbell.
Is Amateurism Dead in Collegiate Athletics?
The End of Free Agency in NCAA Baseball Leaves Some Players Behind
One and Done: the Effect of the Business Decision on NCAA Basketball
Timing Pattern: Department of Defense Decision on Caleb Campbell Lacks Thought, Fairness
5. Colleges and Universities start the trend of hiring attorneys, with little or no experience as collegiate administrators as Athletic Directors.
Notre Dame Set to Hire Sports Attorney As Athletic Director
Another Sports Lawyer Turned Athletic Director
6. UConn continues to demonstrate that collegiate athletics are big business and Storrs is no exception.
Big Money Heading to Storrs: UConn Athletics and Nike Agree to $45.5 Million Contract
UConn Reaches $80 million deal with IMG College for Media Rights
7. Changes in the Connecticut sports landscape beg the question of whether there is a market for sports agents in the state.
Robinson & Cole Confirms Interest in Sports Agent Business
Is there a market for sports agents in Connecticut? Next Question!
8. The Patriots, Red Sox and the Law.
Manny Being Manny or Boras Being Boras?
Breaking Down the Red Sox Boycott; Youkilis on the Parol Evidence Rule
Home Field Advantage: Patriots Prevail in Suit Against Club Seat Ticket Holder in Case Before Massachusetts High Court
Spygate Observations: Roger Goodell, Arlen Specter and Ted Kennedy
9. Will Hartford Build a New Downtown Arena or host a new UFL Franchise?
A New Hartford Civic Center: Fantasy or Reality?
Speaker Amann’s Retirement: Will it Affect Plans for a New Arena?
UFL Yet to be Discussed by CT Sports Advisory Board
10. Ben Berger uniquely covers the sports law and business issues of Major League Soccer.
U.S. Immigration Policy: Encouraging a Soccer Pipeline from Cuba?
MLS Record $10 Million Transfer Carries Unique Risk for Villarreal
Freddy Adu and Player Loan Agreements in Professional Soccer
Superliga’s Second Year Brings Success, Union Tension
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Blog News, Coaching Contracts, Colleges and Universities, Connecticut Local News, Major League Baseball, NCAA, National Basketball Association, National Football League, New England Patriots, New Hartford Civic Center, Pro Sports in Connecticut, Professional Sports in Hartford, Red Sox, Sports Litigation, Sports business, UConn Sports | Tagged: Coaching Contracts, NCAA, UConn, New England Patriots, Hartford Civic Center, UConn Football, NFL, Notre Dame, NBA, Patriots, UConn Notre Dame Series, Ben Berger, Connecticut Sports Law, UFL | 
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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald
December 11, 2008
UFL’s Competition may be Sidelined
Yesterday an Arena Football League owner announced that the league will be suspending operations for the upcoming season. Today, the AFL is reconsidering and announced that it plans to play in 2009. Whatever the outcome, the struggles of the AFL are unfortunate. The AFL has quietly been in existence for 23 years, serving as both a feeder-league to the NFL (see Kurt Warner) and enjoying success in its own right.
However, the misfortunes of the AFL could prove beneficial for the upstart UFL, which is considering placing a team in Hartford. Gabe Feldman of Sports Law Blog points out that the AFL’s demise can only help the upstart UFL by eliminating competition and providing a large pool of coaches and players to form UFL teams.
UConn Football Heading to International Bowl
UConn football has accepted a bid to the International Bowl, to be played on January 3, 2009 in Toronto, Canada. Desmond Connor of The Hartford Courant, writes about the benefits of playing in a bowl game. UConn Running Back Donald Brown, having been snubbed by the Doak Walker award, has been named Big East Offensive Player of the Year.
UConn Basketball Contracts Published
For UConn basketball junkies, The Hartford Courant has posted copies of the contracts of UConn basketball coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma.
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Coaching Contracts, Colleges and Universities, Connecticut Local News, NCAA, Pro Sports in Connecticut, Professional Sports in Hartford, Sports business, UConn Sports | Tagged: Arena Football League, Big East, Donald Brown, Gabe Feldman, Geno Auriemma, International Bowl, Jim Calhoun, Kurt Warner, UConn Football | 
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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald
November 4, 2008
As many of us spend tonight watching CNN’s interminable coverage of the Presidential Election, we will likely focus on the prevailing issues of the day: the economy, the Iraq War, and whether Sarah Palin can really see Russia from her backyard. In fact, election night is often a rare night off from watching sports. However, those involved with the ownership of professional sports teams certainly have a vested interest in tonight’s election. Darren Rovell, in his Sports Biz blog, provides much insight:
Sports team owners, in a collective sense, are rooting for John McCain to win the election tonight. That’s because in general, the politicians with the (R) next to their name not only stand for Republican, but for the values of the rich.
But it’s all not about the capital gains tax. Today, I’m here in Pennsylvania, where I continue to be confused by the Rooneys. After turning down $800 million in cash from Stanley Druckenmiller —clearly the highest bid for the Steelers—Steelers chairman Dan Rooney is not only supporting Obama, he has been campaigning for him. You’d think if you were even thinking about unloading the family fortune, you’d be Republican.
To see the rest of Rovell’s article, click here.
Perhaps what’s more interesting is the effect that this election and the current economic conditions will have on the business of sports in the coming years. Will owners be able to justify bank-breaking player contracts when their customers are looking to save more and spend less? Will businesses and corporations invest in a luxury box in a bad economy? Will owners be able to secure the financing necessary to fund new stadium projects and then expect the fans the pick up the tab via personal seat licenses (PSLs)?
We’ll just have to wait and see.
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Sports business | Tagged: Dan Rooney, Darren Rovell, Election 2008, McCain, Obama, Steelers | 
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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald
