SFC Celebrates 2025 Most Valuable Policymakers
Every year we honor the policymakers who have exceptional commitment to advocating for sports fans' rights and interests. Our Most Valuable Policymaker (MVP) Championship ring is given to those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and courage by defending everyday sports fans against monopolists and other large corporate interests.
Recipients of this award have actively worked to pass legislation, support policies, or engage in initiatives that benefit sports fans, ensuring fair access to games, protecting consumer rights, and standing up for the underdog. The MVP Award recognizes these policymakers for their dedication to making a positive impact on the sports community.
This year’s recipients were:
Senator Ted Cruz (R TX)
Senator Ed Markey (D MA)
Representative Pat Ryan (D NY-18)
Arizona State Senator Mitzi Epstein (D LD-12)
Arizona State Senator Lauren Kuby (D LD-8)
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Ted Cruz has used his position as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to advocate for sports fans, starting with the TICKET Act. At the end of last year, he worked to include the TICKET Act in the end-of-year omnibus bill before that bill was pared back. Since then, he’s continued to fight for the TICKET Act and has worked with fans on issues such as NIL rights for college athletes, addressing sports blackouts, and the ever-increasing streaming prices for sports.
Senator Ed Markey
For more than 40 years, Senator Markey has served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Congressman and U.S. Senator. He has been a national leader and author of some of the most important laws in the areas of energy, the environment, and telecommunications policy. On a bipartisan basis, he has co-sponsored more than 500 pieces of legislation that have passed into law. Senator Markey has been a stalwart champion for sports fans for many years, including on ticketing consumer protections as a lead sponsor of the the BOSS and SWIFT Act and the TICKET Act. His TICKET Act sailed through committee this year and its House companion passed the House with 409 yes votes. He is a passionate Boston sports fan always cheering for the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and Bruins!
Representative Pat Ryan
Congressman Pat Ryan is a fifth-generation Hudson Valley native, and the first West Point graduate to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ryan served two combat tours in Iraq, earning two Bronze Stars. The Congressman heard the call of thousands of sports fans in his district when Optimum cable blacked out MSG Networks this winter without refunding their subscribers. He stood up for fans and demanded that the signals be restored, and a few weeks later, they were able to tune in to their favorite games. He also introduced to the Stop Sports Blackouts Act. Congressman Ryan is a West Point football fan. But professionally, he cheers for the Yankees, Giants, and Knicks.
Arizona State Senators Mitzi Epstein and Lauren Kuby
Arizona State Senators Mitzi Epstein and Lauren Kuby fought tirelessly for fans against the boondoggle of a stadium deal that was the Diamondbacks’ new park. They championed the fans’ interest by taking an innovative approach to stadium deals – adding truly pro-fan conditions. They are the first legislators ever to propose an amendment to change subsidies from government handouts to government investments, giving the community a stake in the team.
