Judges Block Tennessee Law Over Sports Authority Board Selection

The decision marks the fourth court ruling against state laws seen as diluting Nashville's control over local affairs.

A panel of judges has temporarily blocked a new Tennessee law that would have allowed state leaders to select six of the 13 board members overseeing professional sports facilities in Nashville.
The law, which was set to take effect on January 1, is seen as violating home rule protections in the state constitution, as it singles out Nashville and does not require approval by local voters or two-thirds of the metro council.
This ruling marks the fourth court decision against the state in a broader legal battle over laws passed by Republican legislators this year that dilute Democratic-leaning Nashville’s control over various areas, including the international airport and the size of the city-county metro council.
The Nashville Sports Authority, established in 1995, has 13 board members selected by the city’s mayor and approved by the metro council. The new law would have allowed the mayor to retain a slim majority with seven appointments, while the other six would be split among the House and Senate speakers and the governor.
The state has justified the change by noting that it has authorized $500 million in bonds to help build a new $2.1 billion domed stadium for the Tennessee Titans, and a nearby performing arts center is receiving $200 million from the state.