In re Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. Stockholders Litigation, 2021-0468-KSJM (Del. Ch.)

This stockholder derivative action seeks damages on behalf of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Inc. (“MSGE”) related to MSGE’s acquisition of MSG Networks, Inc. (“MSG Networks”), an unfair stock-for-stock acquisition that was orchestrated and effected by MSGE’s controllers, the Dolan family.  On May 27, 2021, BLB&G initiated this lawsuit.  On September 10, 2021, the Court appointed BLB&G as co-lead counsel in the case, and BLB&G’s client as co-lead plaintiff.  On October 11, 2021, BLB&G and its co-counsel filed the Verified Consolidated Derivative Complaint (the “Complaint”). To view the complaint, see the Case Documents section of this page.

MSGE is “live experiences” empire that owns event venues, entertainment content, dining and nightlife venues, and a premier music festival that, together, draw approximately 12 million guests a year. MSGE also owns or operates by lease Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and The Chicago Theatre. In addition, it is building a new state-of the-art immersive experience venue—the MSG Sphere—in Las Vegas and plans to build a second MSG Sphere in London. During the pandemic, MSGE’s revenues declined.

MSG Networks owned and operated wide array of television sports and entertainment programming, including two sports broadcasting networks (MSG Network and MSG+), the local broadcasting rights for live games of the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association, and the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. The pandemic benefited MSG Networks, leading to an increase in revenue.  The Dolan family dominated both the MSGE empire and MSG Networks, comprising more than half of both companies’ boards of directors and controlling a super-majority of stockholder voting power for both companies.

The Complaint asserts breach of fiduciary duty claims against (i) certain directors of MSGE and (ii) certain members of the Dolan family in their capacity as MSGE’s controlling stockholders.  The Complaint alleges that MSGE overpaid for MSG Networks, and that the Dolan family received unique benefits from the acquisition, to the detriment of other MSGE stockholders.  In particular, the Dolan family used the Merger as a means to finance MSGE’s business by taking advantage of MSG Network’s substantial cash flow, despite other financing options presenting better value for MSGE.  By effectuating the Merger, however, the Dolan family was able to maintain their voting and economic control of the companies without having to raise third-party financing or issue dilutive equity capital.  Moreover, the interests of minority stockholders were not protected; MSGE’s two-person special committee included at least one conflicted member, and MSGE did not condition the acquisition on approval of a minority stockholder vote.  This case is currently in discovery and is set for trial in April 2023.