Why We Care – A Local Chapter Chair’s Manifesto
by Scott Weiss
When I was a kid, I can remember my father teaching me how to read the box scores. It was exciting getting the newspaper in the morning and checking the stats from the previous nights games. I can remember my Uncle coming over to my house to watch the New York Rangers games, and how much I looked forward to that. I can remember how incredibly exciting it was as a kid to go to any professional sporting event in person. Fast forward to 2010.
Now, sports owners aim to soak every last dime out of their loyal followers, and players salaries escalate at mind numbing rates. If the sports establishment continues to go unchecked, more and more sporting events will become pay per view, and only the wealthy and corporations will be able to go out to the ballpark to view games live. Fast forward to the next generation of sports fans.
I can envision two different scenarios taking place. The first scenario is that the professional sports business continues down the present path resulting in fans required to purchase all televised sporting events. Ticket prices will be so high, that only a select few will be able to take their kids out to the ball game. The second scenario is much more hopeful. A powerful organization representing sports fans (SFC), will help to return sports to the fans who fuel the industry itself. Sports fans will be able to view their favorite events on TV for free, and ticket prices will get back to a place where sports fans from all socio economic backgrounds will be able to take their kids to games.
So, if you ask why we need an organization representing the rights of sports fans, this would be my reason. I care because I want my kids to be able to provide the same sports experience for their kids that I had growing up.
Scott Weiss is the Local Chapter Chair for SFC-New York/New Jersey. He has been involved in the sports fans advocacy movement since 2000. He is a life long fan of the Mets, Jets, Knicks, and Rangers.
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