Cleveland and the Three Major Leagues: How the Recently Agreed NFL, NBA and MLB Collective Bargaining Agreements Will Help (or Hurt) Our Hometown Teams Win a Championship

The topic of the Symposium concerns the three Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) that were agreed to this past year in the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB). In particular, the Symposium will focus on how each CBA will affect Cleveland’s three professional sports franchises and the three major leagues in general. The panelists all have significant experience working with professional athletes, sports organizations, and their respective league’s CBA. A moderator will oversee and direct the discussion of each panel.

The Cleveland Browns / NFL Panel will discuss the impact of the 2011 NFL Lockout and the recently completed NFL CBA on the Cleveland Browns, as well as other teams in the NFL. The discussion will particularly focus on the legal remedies sought by the players during the lockout and the impact of the recent court decisions on the bargaining relationship between owners and players during the CBA negotiations.

The Cleveland Indians / MLB Panel will discuss the recently completed MLB CBA and how the changes that were implemented in the most recent agreement may help or hurt the Cleveland Indians. The panel will also address the CBA’s impact on the League as a whole.

The Cleveland Cavaliers / NBA Panel will discuss the impact of the 2011 NBA Lockout and the recently completed CBA on the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as other teams in the NBA. In particular, the discussion will focus on the negotiations between the players and owners that led to the agreement, as well as how a similar situation in the NFL affected the NBA players’ and owners’ decisions during the bargaining process.