Nashville Files Lawsuit Over Sports Authority Changes, Fourth Suit Filed Against State This Year

Image: Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse. Image Credit: John Partipilo

By Adam Friedman [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –

Metro Nashville’s government filed its fourth lawsuit against the state this year, challenging lawmaker-imposed changes to its board overseeing sports venues, including the Bridgestone Arena, Geodis Park and Nissan Stadium. 

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers passed legislation giving the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House six appointments on Metro Nashville’s 13-member sports authority. 

Lawmakers justified the appointments because of the $500 million in state taxpayer contributions for a new $2.1 billion NFL stadium in Nashville to replace Nissan Stadium.

“We cannot sit idly by and let the state deprive the metropolitan government and the people who live here of their rights under our Tennessee constitution,” said Metro law director Wally Dietz in a statement. 

The new law — which goes into effect on Jan. 1 — doesn’t give the state majority control of the sports authority board, unlike another new law giving control of the airport’s board to the state. 

A three-judge panel will hear the case because lawmakers passed legislation in 2021 where any constitutional claim against a state law is heard by a group of judges from each grand division. 

Metro Nashville will fight the sports board law based on the home rule amendment, which prevents state lawmakers from passing laws specifically targeting a local government without its permission. 

Last month, Dietz’s office used this argument to win a lawsuit against state-forced changes around the votes needed to approve renovations at the Nashville Fairground Speedway. 

The department is also challenging a state law requiring the Metro Council to be cut from 40 to 20 members and another which gave state officials six of eight appointments on a board overseeing the Nashville International Airport.

Judges blocked the Metro Council reduction from going into effect while the case plays out in court. The new airport board went into effect on July 1, with judges allowing it to remain in place while the lawsuit continues. Judges held a hearing in the airport case on Oct. 6. 

The state laws and lawsuits stem from escalating tensions between the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic-controlled council.

Lawmakers passed six bills earlier this year targeting various Metro Nashville boards. 

Nashville’s legal department declined to file suits over a law eliminating the police oversight board and legislation restrictions on how the board overseeing the Music City Convention Center spends its money. 

*Note: This article was edited for length and style by The Tennessee Conservative per The Tennessee Lookout’s republishing guidelines.