A Nashville judge on Monday dismissed a closely watched lawsuit against the city that sought to stop plans for a new Major League Soccer stadium at the Metro fairgrounds.

It marks an important win for Music City's expansion hopes as Nashville and three other cities wait to learn whether they've been awarded franchises.

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle, in an written order, sided with Metro, which had argued that the advocacy group Save Our Fairgrounds lacked standing to bring the case to court because they’ve not demonstrated any harm or injury in the case.

"After studying Tennessee law and the amended complaint of the plaintiffs, and

considering oral argument of the attorneys for each side, the court concludes Metro is

correct," her ruling reads. "This lawsuit must be dismissed."

► More:Nashville judge still reviewing MLS stadium lawsuit as expansion decision looms

Plaintiffs, led by Save Our Fairgrounds and other fairgrounds supporters, had argued that the addition of a 27,500-seat, $275 million soccer stadium on the fairgrounds would compromise protected fairgrounds activities such as an annual state fair, auto racing and flea markets. A Metro charter amendment approved in 2011 by Nashville voters protects all existing fairgrounds functions, but plaintiffs say a stadium would make it impossible to conduct such events.

But Lyle, in her ruling, disagreed.

"Nothing in the Metro Charter prevents additional uses of the Fairground Tract," she wrote, adding that Mayor Megan Barry, in proposing the stadium, made clear in comments and legislation that the city is aware of the charter amendment's requirements.

The Metro Council last month voted 31-6 to approve a resolution committing to bond funding for the stadium.

Metro attorney Catherine Pham and Save Our Fairgrounds lawyer Jim Roberts had nearly two hours of oral arguments Friday, but Lyle had agreed to take the complaint into advisement through the weekend.

In her order, the judge said that an action by a board or commission that is not final is “not subject to judicial review under the common law ... " Future votes, including for the demolition of existing fairgrounds buildings, remain before the MLS stadium would be constructed.

As a result, Roberts said his client plans to re-file its lawsuit against Metro again after binding steps are taken for the stadium.

Roberts said he wasn't surprised by the ruling because "Metro has only announced its intention to violate the Metro charter and hasn't actually done anything substantial yet to violate the law."

"We're going to just wait for Metro to cross the line and we're going to sue them again.

Construction of the stadium, and issuance of bonds to build it, are contingent on Nashville landing an MLS expansion team.

Nashville, Detroit, Cincinnati and Sacramento are four finalists for two expansion spots that MLS plans to fill. League officials discussed expansion at a MLS Board of Governor meeting on Thursday but a decision has not been announced.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com