NFL

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND AND DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

This case requires the court to examine certain provisions of the constitution and by-laws of a professional sports league in the context of the nation’s antitrust laws. Plaintiff, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission (“Coliseum”) contends that the National Football League (“NFL”) and its twenty-eight member teams stand in violation of §§ 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1 and 2. Specifically, the Coliseum challenges the validity of sections 3.1 and 4.3 of the NFL’s Constitution and By-laws, which require an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the team owners before a member club may transfer its franchise from one city to another or before a new member club may be admitted into the NFL. The Coliseum seeks to enjoin defendants, under § 16 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 26 , from enforcing sections 3.1 and 4.3.

The NFL, an unincorporated association, and its twenty-eight member teams are engaged in the business of producing public entertainment in the form of professional football games. The NFL is the only “major league”…