United States: Sport

Subscribe
Entertainment law, media law and telecoms law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as advertising, marketing and branding, broadcasting, gaming, hotels and hospitality, publishing, and mobile and cable communications.
Article
NCAA Data Shows Schools Made Direct Payments Of Nearly USD2B To College Athletes During First Year Of House Settlement
Division I schools spent nearly $2 billion in direct compensation and benefits for college athletes during the first year of the House v. NCAA settlement, with 307 schools (85% of Division I) participating in the new compensation system. The data reveals thousands of new athletic scholarships and a fundamental transformation in how college sports revenue is shared with athletes.
United States Litigation
WT
Winston Taylor
Article
Congress Moves Closer To Rewriting The Rules Of College Sports: Five Things The Industry Should Know
The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, legislation that would fundamentally reshape college athletics by establishing federal rules governing NIL compensation, athlete representation, transfers, and eligibility while granting the NCAA significant antitrust protection. This comprehensive framework could provide universities with greater regulatory certainty but may substantially limit the legal tools athletes have used to challenge NCAA restrictions...
United States Commercial
TS
Taft Stettinius & Hollister
Article
Protect College Sports Act Passes The U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, establishing a potential national framework for college athletics that addresses NIL compensation, antitrust protections, and revenue-sharing. Key amendments include raising the power-conference cap to 20 members, shortening the conference realignment lookback period, and requiring foreign funding disclosure.
United States Government
SH
Stites & Harbison PLLC
Article
Senate Passes The Protect College Sports Act: What It Means For NCAA Oversight And Athlete Pay
The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act by a bipartisan vote of 77-22, marking Congress's most ambitious attempt to regulate college athletics since the NIL era began. This landmark legislation would restore NCAA enforcement powers, codify athlete revenue sharing, establish federal oversight of NIL deals, and create a comprehensive national framework to replace the current patchwork of state laws and litigation that has governed college sports since the Supreme Court's decision in NCAA v. Alsto
United States Anti-trust
WR
Wiley Rein
Article
Managing Private Capital In College Athletics: A Fiduciary Framework For University Decision-Makers
As multi-billion dollar NIL markets, revenue sharing, media rights, and private investment reshape college athletics economics, university leaders face the challenge of balancing competitive ambitions with fiduciary responsibility and institutional mission. This comprehensive framework examines how institutions can evaluate strategic alternatives, assess valuation and governance risks, and structure private capital transactions that preserve autonomy while maximizing economic value.
United States Media & IT
HL
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
Article
The “simple” $12.5 Billion Los Angeles Lakers Flip
Mark Walter's record-breaking $2.5 billion profit from flipping the Los Angeles Lakers in just 14 months has exposed a potential crisis in NBA franchise ownership. As the league faces no restrictions on rapid resales, this unprecedented transaction raises critical questions about whether professional sports teams are becoming short-term investment vehicles rather than long-term civic institutions, and what mechanisms the NBA might deploy to prevent franchise flipping from becoming the new normal.
United States Media & IT
GW
Gowling WLG
Article
SafeSport Fights To Protect Olympic Athletes From Abuse
SafeSport emerged from one of the largest institutional failures in modern American sports. For decades, Larry Nassar, a former physician trusted by USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, sexually abused hundreds of women and girl athletes while disguising his crimes as medical treatment. Despite repeated complaints and warning signs, investigations revealed that officials within USA Gymnastics, Michigan State, and the broader Olympic movement failed to intervene, allowing Nassar continued access to athletes for years.
United States Media & IT
RP
Reavis Page Jump LLP
Article
Court Enjoins NCAA's "Five-for-Five" Eligibility Rule As Applied To The Class Of 2022, Adding To Nationwide Eligibility Litigation
A federal court in Colorado has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the NCAA from enforcing its Five-Year Eligibility Rule against Division I student-athletes who began competition in 2022. The ruling addresses whether the NCAA's exclusion of the "Class of 2022" from a new eligibility framework violates antitrust law, potentially affecting thousands of athletes seeking a fifth season of competition.
United States Media & IT
S
Steptoe LLP
Article
Consolidation, Governance And Complexity: What MSG Sports Corp.’s Proposed Separation Reveals About Modern Sports Ownership
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. has filed a confidential Form 10 registration statement with the SEC to separate its New York Knicks and New York Rangers franchises into two distinct publicly traded companies. The proposed spin-off aims to provide each organization with enhanced strategic and financial flexibility, a more defined business focus, and clearer investment characteristics.
United States Media & IT
AB
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article
Prediction Markets — Legitimate Trading Or Gambling?
The rapid expansion of online prediction markets has created a regulatory gray area where consumers can effectively wager on sporting events even in states that prohibit traditional sports betting. As platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, and Robinhood argue their services constitute futures trading rather than gambling, state attorneys general and the CFTC are locked in legal battles over jurisdiction and consumer protection.
United States Criminal
K
Klemchuk
Article
Matthew Martinez And Gregg Clifton Pen Article For Sports Law Expert, Legal Issues In Collegiate Athletics On Impact Of New DHS Student Visa Rule Upon International Student-Athletes
Phoenix Partners Matthew Martinez and Gregg Clifton examine how a new Department of Homeland Security rule will fundamentally change immigration planning for international student-athletes by replacing the longstanding 'Duration of Status' system with fixed admission periods. The article provides critical guidance for athletes and institutions navigating this significant shift in U.S. immigration policy affecting collegiate athletics.
United States Immigration
LB
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Article
How The New Student Visa Rule May Impact International Student-Athletes
A new Department of Homeland Security rule will replace the longstanding "Duration of Status" system with fixed admission periods for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors beginning September 15, 2026. This change creates unique immigration planning considerations for international student-athletes whose collegiate careers may extend beyond four academic years, requiring careful coordination between athletic eligibility and immigration status timelines.
United States Immigration
LB
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
Article
Covering All The Bases: A Look At MLB’s Trademarks
Major League Baseball's All-Star Game logos and branding represent a sophisticated trademark strategy that extends far beyond the field. From specially designed annual logos featuring location-specific graphics to protected acronyms and classic baseball phrases, MLB demonstrates how comprehensive intellectual property protection creates valuable assets across merchandise, broadcasting, and brand identity.
United States IP
LD
Lerner David
See more