Crew in court: Precourt, MLS want lawsuit thrown out

To no one’s surprise, Precourt Sports Ventures and Major League Soccer are working to get the Crew lawsuit, filed the City of Columbus and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, thrown out.

PSV and MLS are claiming that the grounds of the lawsuit, the “Art Modell Law,” is unconstitutional and that the Franklin County Common Pleas Court overstepped its reach in the case, reports Columbus Business First.

The law states that no owner of a professional sports team in Ohio that benefits from facilities afforded by taxpayers and/or public assistance can relocate out of town unless the owner gives a six months notice and gives the local community an opportunity to purchase the team.

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MLS, which owns the Crew, said they have no received enough financial support necessary to trigger the law so it is therefore unconstitutional.

What’s more, MLS claims the “Art Modell Law” is a violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause by giving local investors an advantage over those out of state, reports Columbus Business First.

PSV and MLS are peeved at two additional things:

1. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein had the six-month clock outlined in the Art Modell Law paused for 90 days to give investors some extra time to make a decision about purchasing the Crew.
2. The court mandated that they turn over the team’s financial information.

PSV and MLS will take their battle against the City of Columbus and DeWine to the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals.

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