Sports impact our lives and our economy in ways big and small. Sports permeate American culture in a way nothing else can, transcending gender, race, class, and political affiliation.  American fandom, however, is under attack. Corporations rake in big bucks taking advantage of your devotion to your teams and players. However, many of our elected officials stand idly by while fans get overcharged, college athletes are exploited, women soccer players win more but are paid less than their male counterparts, and greedy owners exploit the men and women who work to make our game experience memorable. One elected official is not silent: presidential candidate, Senator Cory Booker. Continue reading

In the wake of the USWNT’s World Cup victory, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D CA) and Representative Lois Frankel (D FL-21) introduced legislation which would grant all women under the US Olympic system equal pay. The pay disparity between men and women under the US Soccer Federation is no secret and has made national headlines this summer. Feinstein and Frankel’s bill. The Athletics Fair Pay Act was the first of several new pieces of legislation to rectify this injustice. Continue reading

Sports Fans Coalition has long advocated for better live event ticketing legislation that would improve transparency, promote competition, and reduce fraud. The issues that plague sports fans when they try to purchase a baseball ticket or resell that ticket because they can no longer make the game are not new to sports fans. Fortunately, in the past couple of years, many states have heard SFC's plight and have made significant improvements to their marketplaces. Continue reading

At today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the television and video marketplace, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Furthering Access to Network Sports (FANS) Act. This bill aims to eliminate the cause of most sports blackouts: take-downs during retransmission consent disputes. Continue reading

This week, the House Energy & Commerce and Senate Commerce Committees will hold hearings on the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR), which allows Satellite TV companies to distribute out-of-market local broadcast TV signals in limited situations, such as where a small market lacks a network affiliate. So, if you live in a rural area without a local affiliate, you can still keep up with your sports by watching a neighboring market's station. Continue reading

Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Mark Walker (R NC-6) introduced the Student-Athlete Equity Act to restore the rights of student-athletes. By conditioning the NCAA's tax exemption, the legislation hopes to give student-athletes power of their personal identity and likeness. So now, the NCAA must choose — do what's right or pay taxes. Continue reading

It's no secret that the NCAA doesn't usually act in the interest of the student athletes they govern. After the tragic death of University of Maryland offensive lineman, Jordan McNair, one Maryland state delegate and former college athlete took it upon herself to provide a way for college athletes to protect themselves. Del. Brooke Lierman introduce HB 548 which would grant college athletes the right to collectively bargain with the university.  Executive Director, Brian Hess, testified in support of this bill: Continue reading

Today, Delegate Marcus Simon (D VA-53) introduced HB 2210 which would provide robust and enforceable consumer protections while creating a legal marketplace for sports betting. If consumer protections are important to you, be sure to sign the letter to the Virginia House of Delegates below showing your support. Continue reading

Yesterday Senators Hatch (R-UT) and Schumer (D-NY) revealed the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018. The bill seeks to establish federal standards for states that wish to legalize sports betting. Brian Hess, Executive Director of SFC, said the following: “Any sports betting legalization must include robust consumer protections. This bill is an improvement from initial drafts but Sports Fans Coalition will push lawmakers to include all elements of the Sports Bettors' Bill of Rights.” Continue reading

Yesterday, Sports Fans Coalition and the National Consumers League jointly filed comments which called on the FTC to investigate many consumer harms that are plaguing the live-event ticketing marketplace. The comments, filed in advance of the FTC’s “Online Event Ticket Workshop” argue how excessive market consolidation since the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger in 2010 has caused fans to fall victim to deceptive practices such as drip pricing, holdbacks, and restricted ticket transferability and has resulted in fans being forced to pay more than they agreed to for tickets. Continue reading