Judge expects ruling on jurisdiction, broadcasting rights in ACC-Florida State fight before April 9

The Atlantic Coast Conference and Florida State squared off in a courtroom for the first time Friday, following the member school’s push to exit the conference and explore a more lucrative landing spot elsewhere.

During a four-hour hearing at Mecklenburg County courthouse, attorneys from both sides argued about jurisdiction over dueling lawsuits from last December and whether documents pertaining to broadcasting rights between the ACC and ESPN should be unsealed.

No resolution was reached Friday.

Judge Louis A. Bledsoe III indicated he would take arguments into advisement and have a written ruling on where the case should be held and whether to unseal documents before April 9 – the date Florida State’s lawsuit against the conference is scheduled to be heard in Florida.

The ACC wants the case to be heard in Charlotte, where its headquarters are located, and doesn’t want the broadcasting contract with ESPN made public. Florida State wants to move the venue to Florida and prefers the documents to be unsealed for transparency.

Attorneys for ESPN also weighed in Friday, urging Bledsoe to keep the broadcasting rights contract sealed because making them public would be financially detrimental to the sports programming network.

“FSU is arguing that North Carolina is a more favorable jurisdiction for the ACC,” said ACC attorney James Cooney. “We are not here because this is more favorable; we are here because it is the right jurisdiction.”