top of page
Sideline Statutes—Where law and sports collide.
All Posts


Blueprint for Billions: Experts Dissect Legal Complexities of New Sports Stadiums
Nashville, TN — The intricate and often arduous journey of constructing modern sports cathedrals was a focal point of the 50th Annual...
Oliver Canning
Sep 23, 20256 min read


Sunken Claims — Louisiana Court Dismisses Former Swimmer’s Concussion Suit Against Tulane
The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal recently upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by former Tulane University swimmer...
Oliver Canning
Sep 23, 20252 min read


Heating Up in South Beach: Heat’s New Trademark Fuels Speculation of a 'Vice' Rebrand
The Miami Heat sent shockwaves of speculation and excitement through South Florida with their recent trademark filing for a new “Heat”...
Oliver Canning
Sep 13, 20255 min read


Why Hosting Major Sporting Events Can Be a Smart Economic Play—Both for Cities and Their Communities
Whenever a city can host a major sporting event—no matter if it’s the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, All-Star Game, or National...
Oliver Canning
Aug 9, 20255 min read


The Billion Dollar Blueprint: Manchester City and Puma Continue to Redefine Kit Sponsorship with Record-Setting Deal
Professional football’s landscape is once again shifting—this time with more force than ever. Puma and Manchester City have just...
Oliver Canning
Jul 26, 20255 min read


Too Hot to Handle? FIFA’s Club World Cup Heat Crisis and the Challenge Ahead for 2026
Many viewed this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup as a soft launch, a “test run” for next year’s expanded FIFA Men’s World Cup across the...
Oliver Canning
Jul 3, 20255 min read


The New Reality for Team Doctors in the NIL Era: Liability, Pressure, and a Shifting Relationship
In 2023, a jury sent shockwaves through the world of sports medicine when it awarded former Philadelphia Eagles player Chris Maragos...
Oliver Canning
Jun 30, 20253 min read


Bailey’s Bold Gamble: A New Blueprint for NBA Agent Power Plays?
In the months leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey was projected as the consensus No. 3 overall pick. A high-flying, shot-making...
Oliver Canning
Jun 29, 20254 min read


Manchester City Fined £1M+ for Kick-Off Delays: A Case Study in Broadcast Compliance and League Governance
In huge news out of England yesterday, Manchester City was fined £1.03 million ($1.38 million) by the Premier League for repeated...
Oliver Canning
Jun 20, 20252 min read


Caught in the Crossfire: Club World Cup, National Team Loyalty, and the Fatigue Crisis Facing Soccer's Elite
With this year’s FIFA Club World Cup set to kick off in the United States, the tournament is already drawing more than just commercial...
Oliver Canning
Jun 7, 20255 min read


Victorious Vladdy: Could Guerrero Jr.’s Historic Contract Reshape Sports Deal Structures?
A superstar slugger playing in Canada may have just rewritten the playbook on athlete compensation. Last week, Vladimir Gurrero Jr., the...
Oliver Canning
Apr 13, 20254 min read


National Team Nightmare: Protecting Players in an Age of Increasing International Fixtures
The sight of fans collapsing in tears of joy after their team secures the World Cup. The stories of Olympic medals catapulting...
Oliver Canning
Apr 6, 20255 min read


Maddening March: Amid Record Big Dance Financials and NIL Rollbacks, Amateurism Sings Its Last Song
It’s no secret that March is the most lucrative time of the year for the NCAA, which reported just over $1.38 billion in earnings for...
Oliver Canning
Mar 23, 20254 min read


Counting Factors, Not Fumbles: Why the Johnson “Economic Realities” Test Will Become the New Benchmark for Assessing Student-Athlete Employment Protection Claims
In Johnson v. NCAA , the Third Circuit allowed student-athletes to bring claims for relief under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA),...
Oliver Canning
Mar 3, 202510 min read


Rising Stars, Rising Threats: Latest Incidents Highlight Need for Better Protections Across Women’s Basketball
There have never been more eyes on women’s sports—particularly women’s basketball. The WNBA offseason is in full swing, with teams...
Oliver Canning
Jan 21, 20256 min read


Patriots Coaching Search and Hire Spark Latest Rooney Rule Controversy
Fans celebrated as the Patriots cut ties with former player-turned-head coach Jerod Mayo and hired another ex-New England defender, Mike...
Oliver Canning
Jan 15, 202511 min read


Heat Check: Butler’s Trade Drama Sparks Legal Showdown, Highlights Potential Flaws in NBA Grievance Process
As the NBA’s February 6 trade deadline approaches, the Heat’s Jimmy Butler declared in a postgame press conference that he was unhappy...
Oliver Canning
Jan 10, 20256 min read


James Harden's Restaurant in Legal Spotlight After Fatal Car Accident
Lately, James Harden has been on fire, scoring 41 points (including 7 three-pointers) on Monday against the Jazz. However, the Beard's...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 20243 min read


From Courtside to Courtroom? Kyrie Irving’s $390K Legal Showdown
Renowned for his dazzling on-court skills and controversial off-court headlines, Kyrie Irving is once again in the spotlight—this time...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 20242 min read


Pepper Spray and Pandemonium: A Shocking End to “The Game”
Credit: Detroit Free Press As the final whistle blew on the 120th rendition of “The Game,” Michigan players jubilantly celebrated their...
Oliver Canning
Dec 18, 202411 min read
bottom of page