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The Rams must grant season tickets to some people who bought personal seat licenses while the NFL team was in St. Louis, PSLs that are still valid despite the team’s move to Los Angeles, according to a district court ruling issued Wednesday.
The Rams must also refund deposits for others who bought PSLs, though a district judge was unable to determine an amount for those deposits.
Three different parties have sued the Rams regarding the more than 46,000 people who bought PSLs before the team left for Los Angeles in January. Some plaintiffs paid as much as $1,000 for the licenses, which grant the right to buy season tickets.
Two of those suing parties, Envision, LLC and Richard Arnold, argued that their PSLs are still valid despite the Rams’ relocation and that they have the right to buy season tickets in Los Angeles. The Rams argued that the contracts were terminated by the move.
The third suing party, Ronald McAllister, argued the Rams in effect terminated their contracts with PSL holders when they relocated, and PSL holders therefore deserve refunds on their deposits, based on the contract language.
A spokesperson for the Rams could be reached for comment Wednesday night.
District Judge Stephen Limbaugh, Jr. based his ruling on the fact that two different kinds of PSL contracts were issued.
Some were sold by the Rams ticketing agent, FANS, Inc., and the others were sold directly by the Rams.
Both the agreements say that, in the event the Rams play at a venue other than their regular St. Louis stadium, the Rams must “use its best efforts” to provide seats for PSL holders.
The judge ruled that people who bought PSLs from FANS cannot buy season tickets because the FANS contract clearly states a Rams relocation would terminate the contract, thus rendering the “best efforts” language moot.
However, the Rams must “use its best efforts” to provide season tickets for people who bought PSLs directly from the team, because that particular contract never states the PSL agreement is terminated by relocation.
Even though both the FANS and Rams contracts say a PSL holder cannot sue for damages over PSLs, the Rams failed to present that as an argument, or even mention it, in court, according to Wednesday’s ruling.
In the McAllister lawsuit, the judge pointed out that the FANS contract says the Rams have the right to terminate the PSL contract for any reason and refund “part or all” of the PSL holder’s deposit.
However, “deposit” is not defined in the FANS contract. The judge promised to determine the amount of a deposit at a later date.
The Rams now play at the Los Angeles Coliseum. They are expected to play at a new stadium in Inglewood, Calif. starting in 2019.
The Rams must grant season tickets to some people who bought personal seat licenses while the NFL team was in St. Louis, PSLs that are still valid despite the team’s move to Los Angeles, according to a district court ruling issued Wednesday.
The Rams must also refund deposits for others who bought PSLs, though a district judge was unable to determine an amount for those deposits.
Three different parties have sued the Rams regarding the more than 46,000 people who bought PSLs before the team left for Los Angeles in January. Some plaintiffs paid as much as $1,000 for the licenses, which grant the right to buy season tickets.
Two of those suing parties, Envision, LLC and Richard Arnold, argued that their PSLs are still valid despite the Rams’ relocation and that they have the right to buy season tickets in Los Angeles. The Rams argued that the contracts were terminated by the move.
The third suing party, Ronald McAllister, argued the Rams in effect terminated their contracts with PSL holders when they relocated, and PSL holders therefore deserve refunds on their deposits, based on the contract language.
A spokesperson for the Rams could be reached for comment Wednesday night.
District Judge Stephen Limbaugh, Jr. based his ruling on the fact that two different kinds of PSL contracts were issued.
Some were sold by the Rams ticketing agent, FANS, Inc., and the others were sold directly by the Rams.
Both the agreements say that, in the event the Rams play at a venue other than their regular St. Louis stadium, the Rams must “use its best efforts” to provide seats for PSL holders.
The judge ruled that people who bought PSLs from FANS cannot buy season tickets because the FANS contract clearly states a Rams relocation would terminate the contract, thus rendering the “best efforts” language moot.
However, the Rams must “use its best efforts” to provide season tickets for people who bought PSLs directly from the team, because that particular contract never states the PSL agreement is terminated by relocation.
Even though both the FANS and Rams contracts say a PSL holder cannot sue for damages over PSLs, the Rams failed to present that as an argument, or even mention it, in court, according to Wednesday’s ruling.
In the McAllister lawsuit, the judge pointed out that the FANS contract says the Rams have the right to terminate the PSL contract for any reason and refund “part or all” of the PSL holder’s deposit.
However, “deposit” is not defined in the FANS contract. The judge promised to determine the amount of a deposit at a later date.
The Rams now play at the Los Angeles Coliseum. They are expected to play at a new stadium in Inglewood, Calif. starting in 2019.
