Ice Miller LLP

Sports and Entertainment

The SEG frequently calls on the attorneys and professionals from Ice Miller's other practice areas to provide our clients with a team that has the right skills, experience and background to achieve the results that they desire. We know our job is to help our clients achieve their goals – quickly, efficiently and effectively.

The SEG is headquartered in Ice Miller’s Indianapolis, Indiana office but several members of the SEG reside outside of Indianapolis and provide services out of our Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. offices.

Professional Sports
The SEG has substantial experience representating teams, leagues, communication and media companies, event owners, sponsors, promoters, athletes, investors and other sports industry participants in their business relationships. Our representation has included:

  • Formation of teams, leagues and events
  • Financing of teams, leagues and events, including private and public securities offerings
  • Purchase and sale of teams, leagues and events
  • Sponsorship, marketing and licensing arrangements
  • Employment contracts with key personnel of teams, leagues, event owners, sponsors and promoters, including coaches
  • Television, radio, internet and other media agreements and relationships
  • Adoption and interpretation of governing documents such as association, conference, league and sanctioning body legislation by-laws and rules
  • Litigation and dispute resolution, including antitrust issues
  • General contract and business affairs of teams, leagues, conferences and other sports industry participants, including indemnity and release issues

Collegiate Sports
The SEG has represented more than 35 public and private colleges and universities on amateur athletic issues. Our attorneys and other professionals provide clients with a broad range of services in specific sports-related areas such as NCAA rules compliance and infractions matters, NCAA governance matters, conference rules compliance, Title IX and gender equity issues, Title VII and coaches compensation issues, procedural due process issues, drug testing programs, athlete eligibility requirements, collegiate licensing and intellectual property protection and exploitation, and employee benefits and tax issues. We understand the daily decisions confronted by colleges and universities and have the resources, skills and experience to assist them in these matters.

Entertainment Services
In the entertainment arena, the SEG provides legal and business services to clients involved in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including publishing, broadcast and media companies, individual authors, artists, musicians, composers, dancers and media personalities, and event promoters, sponsors and owners.

Athletic/Entertainment Facility Financing & Construction
The collaborative efforts of our national construction, real estate and municipal finance practices, together with the knowledge and experience of the members of the SEG, provide our clients with innovative solutions to the financing and construction of athletic and entertainment facilities. We have developed considerable experience in the development, financing and construction of many nationally known projects such as Pro Player Stadium (formerly known as Joe Robbie Stadium), the United Center in Chicago, Chicagoland Motor Speedway in Chicago, Jacobs Field in Cleveland, the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, and numerous college and university stadiums and athletic facilities.

Ice Miller Affiliate Organizations
IM Sports Services, LLC is an independent business enterprise that provides sports contract negotiation and endorsement services to Olympic and professional athletes. www.imsportsservices.com – (317) 236-2353.

Representative Clients
Representative clients of the SEG include the following:

Colleges & Universities
Ball State University
Butler University
Dartmouth College
DePauw University
Eastern Illinois University
George Washington University
Indiana State University
Indiana University
Indiana University Purdue University- Indianapolis
Marshall University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northern Arizona University
Oakland University
Purdue University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Saint Bonaventure University
San Diego State University
Seton Hall University
Taylor University
University of Alabama
University of California, Davis
University of California, Los Angeles
University if Cincinnati
University of Dayton
University of Evansville
University of Illinois
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of The Virgin Islands
West Virginia University

Events/Event Owners
Brickyard 400
Chicagoland Motor Speedway
Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC
International Speedway Corporation
United States Grand Prix

Associations/Leagues/Sanctioning Bodies
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
Black Coaches Association
Great Lakes Valley Conference
Indy Racing League (IRL)
Mid-American Conference
Midwestern Collegiate Conference
National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
National Basketball Association (NBA) –
(Trademark Enforcement)
Track Coaches Association
Womens Basketball Coaches Association

Media/Licensing
CMG Worldwide, Inc.
James Dean, Inc.
Sony Corporation of America
Thompson Consumer Electronics (RCA)
Wabash Valley Broadcasting
TNT Media

Professional Athletes/Foundations
Jason Belser
Dale Davis
Sarah Fisher
Tarik Glenn
Lyn St. James
Adam Meadows
Rajeev Ram
Rik Smits
Tony Stewart
J.J. Yeley

Teams
Indiana Pacers Basketball Corporation
Hubbard Racing, Inc.
Pac West Racing Group, LLC
Team Green Racing
Bradley Motorsports
Red Bull Team Cheever

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