Doubleheader · Bottom of the Ninth
One More Season
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission v. Minnesota Twins Partnership (2002)
Charge: Suit to enforce the final season of a stadium lease against a club facing elimination (suit against the club)Court: Minnesota Court of AppealsDocket: Bottom of the Ninth
Could a court order a ball club to play out the last season of its stadium lease instead of just paying damages?
The facts
A league announced it would eliminate two teams, and one was a club whose stadium lease still had one season to run. The public commission that ran the domed stadium went to court to make the club honor the final year and play its home games there. A trial judge issued an injunction ordering the club to play the season. The club appealed, arguing that a lease is an ordinary property deal where money damages, not a court order to play baseball, is the remedy.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission v. Minnesota Twins Partnership, 638 N.W.2d 214 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002)
Read more at news.minnesota.publicradio.org. The source reveals the outcome.