Jets Sue Over Stadium

The battle over the proposed stadium in New York City is now in the courts. The facility’s would-be tenant, the New York Jets, filed suit against the owner of Madison Square Garden, claiming it illegally maintains a monopoly on major NYC sports and entertainment events.

According to the suit, MSG owner Cablevision attempted to exclude competition in the city, resulting in higher ticket prices. The lawsuit also claims Cablevision spent millions in a “false and misleading disinformation campaign” against the stadium. Likewise, the Jets allegedly couldn’t set the record straight because the team could not buy ads on the company’s cable systems.

Cablevision has been an outspoken opponent of the stadium, funding an ad campaign in opposition. The stadium site is just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden.

“Cablevision’s egregious actions – which have intensified over the past several weeks – have forced us to take this step to enforce our rights and protect our ability to communicate with all New Yorkers,” Jets President Jay Cross said after the suit was filed in Manhattan federal court.

Cablevision officials said the company would not run ads supporting the stadium plan on local cable channels and would instead run anti-stadium ads.

The $1.2 billion project is the cornerstone of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to lure the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to the city.