MLB Franchise – $425 Million Refinancing
Represented a Major League Baseball franchise, as borrower, in connection with an amended $425 million senior secured revolving credit facility led by a major commercial bank.
Represented Premium Experiences Company in Acquisition of Collegiate Sports Analytics Platform
Represented premium experience company in acquisition of a collegiate sports analytics platform that offers master data management and advanced analytics solutions for college athletic departments.
The New York Islanders – Belmont Park
Representing the New York Islanders Hockey Club in the development of its new arena complex at Belmont Park.
Private Client – Credit Analysis
Analyze strategic credit facilities and consolidation for client, a family-run group of companies focused on sports, media and real estate.
New York Racing Association – Churchill Downs/Pinnacle JV
Representing New York Racing Association in a joint venture with Churchill Downs and Pinnacle.
Legends Hospitality – UFC Joint Venture
Representing Legends Hospitality in a concessionaire joint venture with Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Private Investors – L.A. Dodgers
Represented private investment group in connection with their acquisition of an ownership interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Village – Operational and Promotional Matters
Represented a client in connection with all operational and promotional matters associated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village (HOF Village), a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment destination under development in Canton, Ohio.
Racing Association – Acquisition of Minority Interest in Elite Turf Club
Represented a prominent thoroughbred racing association in the acquisition of a minority interest in Elite Turf Club, a provider of natural turf installation services.
Private Investor – Formation of Private Equity Fund
Represented client in establishing a private equity fund focusing on aggregating investments in collegiate and high school sports.
NFL Club – Governance and Employment Matters
Represented a well-known NFL club in issues related to league governance and employment matters.
D.C. United – Acquisition by Levien Soccer
Represented Levien Soccer in connection with its buyout of D.C. United.
Yankee Global Enterprises – Acquisition of Equity Interest
Issued transfer and tax opinions in connection with the acquisition of an indirect equity interest in Yankee Holdings, L.P.
Legends Hospitality – Concessions Services
Represented Legends Hospitality Management LLC in connection with a concessions services arrangement for a rugby franchise.
Legends Hospitality – Stadium Development
Represented Legends Hospitality in connection with a stadium development for a major league franchise.
Private Investor – Establishment of Baseball Clinic
Represented a private client in connection with establishing a new baseball development clinic in southern Florida.
Sports Enterprise – Ownership Transfers
Represented a major league franchise in numerous minority ownership transfers.
Not-For-Profit Association – Cyber Securities
Represented a major sports franchise operator in connection with cyber securities initiatives.
Not-For-Profit Association – Compensation Plan
Represented a major sports franchise operator in connection with establishing a deferred compensation plan.
Not-For-Profit – Pari-Mutuel Wager Matters
Represented a major sports franchise operator in connection with pari-mutuel wagering issues.
Not-For-Profit Association – Rate Review
Represented client, as its integrity counsel, in connection with a rate review.
Not-For-Profit Association – Executive Transition
Represented major sports league in connection with all employment and personnel issues.
Sports Ventures – Ownership Transfer
Represented client in connection with a minority ownership transfer of an NBA franchise.
Sports and Pop Culture Online Site Defense – Copyright Infringement
Represent a well-known sports and pop culture blog and website as lead counsel in a copyright infringement action filed in U.S. District Court in New York regarding a design created and sold by plaintiffs to client.
Professional Basketball – License Agreement
Represent owner and operator of a professional NBA basketball team in a licensing and production agreement with a wholly-owned media subsidiary to produce broadcast-ready video and multi-media content for its own and other basketball teams.
Fulltime Fantasy – Trademark Infringement
Represented fantasy sports platform, Fulltime Fantasy Sports LLC, in a New York federal court action against a subsidiary of a large U.S. media conglomerate, which included claims of trademark infringement, false advertising, unfair competition and breach of an online publishing contract in a matter involving fantasy sports production and promotions. Counterclaims were also filed, but all claims were ultimately settled favorably for our client.
Major Concessions Company – Product Offerings
Representation of major concessions company in connection with the offering of its client product offerings.
NHL Hockey Team – Naming Rights
Represented NHL hockey team as outside counsel in connection with its naming rights transaction.
Yankee Global Enterprises – Acquisition of Equity Interest in YES Network
Represented Yankee Global Enterprises (the “Yankees”) as lead counsel in connection with the Walt Disney Company’s sale of its equity interest in the YES Network to a newly formed investor group. The investor group acquired the 80 percent of the YES Network not already held by the Yankees at a total enterprise value of $3.47 billion. |
NYRA – Multiyear Hospitality Contracts for Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park
Represented the New York Racing Association in a multiyear contract with a leading concessionaire to provide food, beverage and high end catering services for Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park.
D.C. Stadium LLC – Stadium Use Agreement With XFL
Represented D.C. Stadium LLC in connection with the negotiation of a Stadium Use Agreement with the XFL covering Audi Field, the home stadium of D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
Legends Hospitality – Creation of Omnichannel Retail Program
Herrick represented Legends Hospitality in the creation of an expansive omnichannel retail program with Spanish soccer powerhouse Real Madrid CF. The program encompasses an all-new official online store, the relaunch of three official stores in Madrid, and a new Flagship Megastore at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The program will offer the latest assortment of fan gear, kits, headwear, customized products, authenticated memorabilia, and accessories at the stadium, online and at official stores.
Resources
Swansea City Football Club Cross-Border Convertible Notes Financing
Represented Swansea City Association Football Club, an English Football League championship finalist, in connection with a cross-border U.S./U.K. offering of secured convertible notes. The investors in the offering include a co-owner of the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. The financing provided an immediate boost to Swansea City’s finances which had been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and relegation from the English Premier League in 2018.
Resources
Creation of Fund to Invest in Mixed-Use Developments
Representing a family-run group of companies that is bringing together family offices to establish a fund to purchase interests in mixed use development projects in and around stadium projects throughout the United States.
Prominent Sports Memorabilia Auction House – Purchase of Collection of Memorabilia
Representing Lelands, the first sports auction house and premier appraisers and authenticators of sports collectibles, in the purchase of a prominent sports memorabilia collection that included collectibles that spanned several decades.
Transfer of Minority Interests in Major League Baseball Team
Representation of sellers and purchasers of minority indirect equity interests in the Major League Baseball Team including delivery of tax and transfer opinion letters required under governing documents.
Professional Sports Association – Database of Medical Providers
Representing professional sports association as integrity counsel in establishing a database to maintain the purity of medical providers.
Counseled Professional Sports Team in Ticketing Issues
Counseled professional sports team in ticket credit analysis issues in light of COVID 19.
Represented Yankee Global Enterprises in Bond Financing
Represented Yankee Global Enterprises in connection with the issuance by the New York City Industrial Agency of approximately $927 million of refunding bonds for the benefit of the Yankees.
Legends Hospitality – Control Interest Transfer
Represented long-standing client Legends Hospitality in its entry into a share purchase agreement with the private equity firm Sixth Street. Under the share purchase agreement, Sixth Street acquired a controlling interest in Legends Hospitality. This investment will support Legends continued growth as a premium experiences company that specializes in delivering holistic solutions for sports, entertainment and attractions clients.
In connection with the acquisition, Legends Hospitality (i) issued senior secured long-term notes and (ii) entered into a revolving credit facility and PIK facility. The net proceeds were used to redeem certain outstanding equity securities of Legends Hospitality and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
In order to preserve Legends Hospitality’s liquidity and support its continued investment in accretive, long-term capital projects, affiliates of Sixth Street and other third parties will provide Legends Hospitality with access to funding provided by an investment vehicle. The funding will be used for capital expenditures, pre-opening costs and other disbursements contemplated by contracts entered into by Legends Hospitality.
Legends – Majority Investment Transaction
Represented Legends Hospitality Holding Company, LLC (“Legends Hospitality”) in majority investment by private equity firm Sixth Street in the global premium experiences company, co-founded by the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. As reported by Legends, “[t]he new investment from Sixth Street will support the long-term growth of the Company’s global client relationships and further enhancements to its innovative 360-degree platform of premium experience offerings for the most iconic global brands in sports, entertainment, and attractions.”
Herrick has represented Legends since its inception in 2008, when our Sports Law Group worked with the Cowboys and the Yankees, along with two private equity firms, to form this ground-breaking joint venture. Initially, Legends focused on delivering enhanced concessions and premium experiences. Since its formation, Legends’ range of services has grown to include six worldwide divisions and it has partnered with many iconic international sports, entertainment and attractions brands.
Resources
Concession Agreement – University
Represent global advisory, development and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries in concession agreement with major university.
Fox Sports/NYRA – Landmark Wagering and Media Rights Agreements
Represented New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in an expanded partnership agreement establishing Fox Sports as NYRA Bets' official wagering partner and the leading media provider for elite thoroughbred racing through the next decade. The prior FOX Sports/NYRA media rights agreement provided a FOX Sports subsidiary with an option to acquire a 25% stake in NYRA Bets, LLC, a leading Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) platform available to customers in 30 states across the country. The FOX Sports subsidiary will exercise this option by the summer of 2021, pending final regulatory approval.
The agreement provides a FOX Sports subsidiary with a future opportunity to increase its equity interest in NYRA Bets.
Resources
Global Sports and Entertainment Company – Negotiation of Concession Services Agreement with Major University
Represent global advisory, development and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries in negotiation of a concession services agreement with a major American university.
Concession Services Agreement – UBS Arena
Represented partnership in agreement with a global food service and hospitality company in a concession services agreement for the Islanders' venue, UBS Arena, including food, beverage and premium hospitality services.
Sale of Minority Stake in NBA Team
Represented minority limited liability limited partnership owners of NBA team in sale of stake of NBA team to private equity firm.
Concession Services Agreement – National University
Representing a full-service global venue management and event programming company in its concession services agreement at a new 15,000-seat basketball and entertainment venue set to open in 2022.
Acquisition of Global Data and Analytics, Innovation and Digital Media Agency
Represented Legends in its acquisition of 4Front, a global data and analytics, innovation and digital media agency. 4FRONT will retain its company name and operate as part of Legends Global Technology Solutions division, building on Legends’ expertise in data consulting and digital activation. Legends Global Technology Solutions is an industry leading sports and entertainment digital, technology and experiential advisory with the deepest experience in some of the largest, most complex projects in the world of sports and entertainment.
Resources
Represented Leading Producer of Golf Equipment and Apparel in Sale of Business Transaction
Represented Sun Mountain Sports, Inc. ("Sun Mountain"), a leading producer of golf equipment and apparel, in a sale of business transaction to a private investment firm, Solace Capital Partners.
Founded in 1981, Sun Mountain is a pioneer in the golf industry known for its best-in-class brand and many innovations in golf bags, push carts, and outerwear. Sun Mountain’s products are sold in national retail stores, specialty golf stores, and pro shops, as well as online and internationally. The sale did not include Sun Mountain Motor Sports, which produces motorized golf cars under the Finn Scooters brand.
Three Ocean Partners served as financial advisor to Sun Mountain.
Resources
Represented Ownership Group in Purchase of Stake of Australian Basketball Team
Represented an ownership group that includes owners of MLS's DC United and English championship soccer club Swansea City in the acquisition of a majority stake in the Australian National Basketball League's Brisbane Bullets.
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