Sports Law Negotiation Teams Find Nationwide Success in Annual Arbitration Competitions
This past semester, Sports Law Negotiation Team members found success in numerous sports negotiation competitions across North America. These competitions allow students to sharpen their skills in simulated contract negotiations using real-life examples from professional sports leagues. Students also receive feedback from sports industry experts, who serve as competition judges.
In January, Villanova Law sent two teams of students to compete in person for the first time since 2019 at the 16th Annual Tulane Baseball Arbitration Competition from January 19-20. Out of 37 competing teams, both advanced to the playoff rounds and finished in the top eight. The team of Matt Dacey ’23, Andrew Delzotto ’23 and Alex Shaff ’24 finished as semi-finalists. In addition, the team of David Brake ’24, Stella Pratt ’23 and Chris Roppolo ’23 were quarterfinalists and won the competition’s Written Advocacy Award. This year marked the fourth straight year that Villanova Law students advanced to the competition’s playoff rounds and the third time in four years that one of the teams has made the semi-finals.
For the sixth time in the last seven years, Villanova Law advanced to the final round of the Annual Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition, held February 3-4. At the event, now in its ninth year, the team of Spencer de Urioste ’23, Emily Rollo ’23 and Ryan Franklin ’24 finished in second place. In addition, Sarah Grossman ’24, Brett Podell ’24 and Robert Steere ’24 had strong performances and received positive reviews from industry professional judges.
Villanova Law had two teams participate in the Sixth Annual Tulane Pro Basketball Negotiation Competition from February 23-24. Competing against 44 teams from across the country, Dante Camilli ’23, Sid Green ‘24 and Ross Sutton ’23 finished in fifth place after going undefeated in their negotiations rounds and narrowly missing a championship bid. In addition, the team of Hunter Parsons ’24 and James McCauley ’24 also captured a top-ten finish.
Hockey Negotiation Team members Alannah Binotto ’24 and Veronica Sansone ’24 competed at the 12th Annual Hockey Arbitration Competition of Canada, hosted by the University of Toronto. Using their real-world arbitration skills, the team received high scores across multiple rounds in the competition and missed the quarterfinals by a small margin.