Sports, Stadiums & Arenas
With decades of sports’ experience, O’Melveny counsels clients on innovative deals, high-profile disputes, and sensitive investigations.
Cutting the Cord in College Sports: Increasing Competition and Fan Engagement
With decades of sports’ experience, O’Melveny counsels clients on innovative deals, high-profile disputes, and sensitive investigations.
Cutting the Cord in College Sports: Increasing Competition and Fan Engagement
We advise clients across the fast-paced sports industry—from iconic franchises to governing entities, media pioneers to mogul investors—on complex billion-dollar rights deals, record-setting acquisitions, landmark stadium developments, innovative operating agreements, sensitive investigations, and headline-making disputes.
A leader in high-profile sports transactions, we help teams, leagues, investors, and financial institutions achieve their strategic and financial objectives in strategic acquisitions and dispositions of professional sports teams and sports-related entities.
Parlaying the experience of our award-winning entertainment and media group, we advise on complex media rights and distribution deals and help corporate sponsors and organizations leverage valuable intellectual property to grow audiences via sponsorships, endorsements, and other licensing arrangements, including NFTs, live events, celebrity and influencer partnerships, and fan engagement platforms.
We quarterback stadium deals, handling every stage of the site selection, development, and construction process, and negotiating PPP contracts in the context of league rules. We also negotiate naming rights deals and operating agreements for both facilities and ancillary development.
When controversies arise, teams, universities, and governing bodies turn to us to help them handle sensitive investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, and criminal misconduct and assist with remediation. Should disputes end up in court, we are known for developing effective approaches to handling complex litigation involving key areas of law, including breach of contract and other commercial claims, consumer class actions, and intellectual property.
Advised the South Korean conglomerate’s food and beverage company, CJ CheilJedang, on its multi-year global marketing partnership with the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, including the official jersey patch rights for Bibigo, the top brand of Korean cuisine.
Advised the Japanese electronics giant on a five-year title sponsorship agreement for the qualifying tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The renamed Epson Tour will award LPGA Tour membership to the top 10 players at the end of each season. O’Melveny previously advised Epson on the company’s partnership with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Advised the sports-focused streaming service on its acquisition of Molotov SAS, France’s number one live TV streaming company. For Fubo, which previously operated in the US, Canada, and Spain, the deal marked a significant expansion of its reach in Europe.
Advised Liberty Media Corporation on the split-off of Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc., which is the ultimate owner of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball Club and its associated mixed-use real estate development.
Advised MSG on the US$400 million sale of the LA Forum—former home of the Lakers—to Capss, an entity backed by the owners of the rival LA Clippers. The sale also resolved litigation between MSG and the owner of the Clippers regarding a proposed arena.
Conducted a neutral review of a sensitive, high-profile matter related to allegations of workplace misconduct at the team’s practice facility. Following the independent investigation, the team announced the termination of the general manager and took remedial measures.
Counseled the esports and entertainment conglomerate on its acquisition by metaverse entertainment company Infinite Reality in a US$470 million all-stock deal. The resulting companies have a combined post-merger valuation of US$2.47 billion.
Helped the player-owned fantasy sports platform become the official NFT Fantasy game of Major League Soccer. As part of the deal, Sorare will launch NFTs for all MLS players.
A cross-disciplinary team provided critical and strategic legal advice to Stanford University concerning its decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at the start of the 2024-2025 season.
Conducted an internal investigation into student athlete allegations of misconduct by a head coach of Syracuse University’s women’s basketball program. The alleged behavior ranged from unwanted physical contact and threats and other forms of bullying of players. We made recommendations for improving the Syracuse sports program’s environment and culture, including measures to identify, escalate, and address student athlete concerns in the future. In a statement released to the media, Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack thanked the O’Melveny team “for the thoroughness of their work.”
Advised the manufacturer of high-performance golf equipment, golf balls, and accessories, on its extended partnership with 15-time major champion and 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods to launch the new lifestyle brand Sun Day Red, which will offer a full range of premium apparel and footwear.
Advised the bank on a historic 20-year naming rights extension that keeps Boston’s premier sports and entertainment arena as “TD Garden” through 2045. The deal also commits more than US$15 million for community programming.
Secured a Ninth Circuit ruling affirming a lower court victory dismissing class actions filed in multi-district litigation over the “Fight of the Century”—a boxing match that pitted Manny Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Advised automotive giant in a multi-year sponsorship agreement designating Toyota as the Official Automotive Partner of the National Football League.
“O’Melveny has been incredibly helpful as we navigate various regulatory issues as well as M&A and strategic investments.”
—Client Testimonial, The Legal 500 US: Industry Focus: Sport
“The individuals are very good at coming up with creative solutions to complex problems.”
—Client Testimonial, The Legal 500 US: Industry Focus: Sport
“Has a wealth of experience structuring deals for established sports clients”
—Chambers USA: Sports Law
Sources consider it to be “a very strong sports practice, which resembles an all-star team of lawyers.”
—Chambers USA: Sports Law
“The O’Melveny team offers unparalleled legal guidance as outside litigation counsel. They understand the nuances of our business and are able to take a big-picture approach to any disputes that they are assisting on. The team is always available and is able to dig into legal issues quickly and effectively as needed. The degree of communication and the wide-angled view of any dispute sets O’Melveny apart in terms of the service they provide.”
—Client Testimonial, The Legal 500 US: Industry Focus: Sport
“Their assistance and advice has been essential. Their availability and dedication has been total.”
—Client Testimonial, Chambers USA: Sports Law