Minnesota: Decades of Decisions and Impact on Sports Law

The purpose of this Article is to demonstrate that Minnesota provides one of the most substantial examples of how sport and the law intersect. The Article begins with the 1970s and explores, decade-by-decade, many of the major sports law claims, cases, judgments, and incidents associated with Minnesota. The state’s flagship institution—the University of Minnesota Twin Cities—is the epicenter of many of these cases, providing examples of impropriety within institutional rules or the bylaws of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Despite the many instances that the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has run afoul of NCAA rules, it is not the only campus or university in the state that provides sports law material.

Minnesota has had a lasting effect on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, professional sports, and labor relations of the sports world. Ultimately, this Article demonstrates that Minnesota must continue to be a part of the discussion in sports law.