This CLE course will provide a broad overview of the significant legal aspects of sports business affected both during and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, analyzing legal, contractual, risk and economic challenges faced by principally North American sports leagues, teams, unions, and players and contracts. The course will begin its focus on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected sports- looking at the different approaches leagues and governing entities have taken in postponing games and events, how these decisions have then affected contractual commitments, including: player contracts; sponsorship; and broadcast relations.

The course will take an in-depth look at several different types of Force Majeure clauses and language currently in use in making the point that the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for new types of frustration of purpose, impossibility, risk allocation, and tolling language in every commercial contract.

But going further than just the contract language the course will examine how each of the major sports and events may fare in returning to play, what specific risks and challenges face each and how these challenges may be overcome in various ways. Subjects discussed in this context include: the legal environment surround waivers of damage and liability for players, fans or others contracting Covid-19 at sports events; the legal precautions and immunities sought before reopening or resuming, the challenges to current contractual revenue streams in sports both in the immediate and near future.