The debate over the football ticket surcharge took a new turn Monday when a state judge combined two lawsuits involving Tiger Stadium.
One of the lawsuits was filed by the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority against all Louisiana taxpayers and seeks to validate the University’s funding methods in its proposed expansion of Tiger Stadium.
University law student Donald Hodge, who filed the other suit, said the LPFA hearing is a bond validation hearing for the bonds to finance renovations to Tiger Stadium, among other items.
Hodge’s lawsuit is against the University’s Board of Supervisors. It argues the proposed football ticket surcharge violates the Louisiana constitution.
The Board approved the ticket surcharge proposal in August in an attempt to bring all Tiger Stadium football tickets to a uniform price of $36.
In addition, the proposal created a Preferred Seating Program, requiring most season ticket holders to pay an additional $85 to $400, depending on their seat location, to watch games in Tiger Stadium.
“According to the court’s ruling, the same issues of law were presented in my case as well as the bond validation hearing since the outcome of my case as to whether the ticket price is a fee, would certainly affect the validation of the bonds,” Hodge said in an email.
State District Judge William Morvant said he was combining the suits to ensure that Hodge’s case would be heard.
Hodge said the Board of Supervisors “exceeded its authority” in passing the ticket surcharge fee and that the proper place for that type of action is the state legislature.
Hodge said he is prepared to appeal his case all the way to the state Supreme Court if he loses.
Gerald Walter, an attorney for the Board of Supervisors, could not be reached by press time.