Sports Fans Coalition

RECAP: Sports Fans Coalition’s Spring Kickoff

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:39:01 +0000

On May 15, Sports Fans Coalition held its first annual Spring Kickoff and honored several “Most Valuable Policymakers” for their support of fans and fans’ rights. Over 200 people showed up for beer, barbecue and some words from the honorees. It was truly a great night.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

Brian Frederick, Sen. Blumenthal, David Goodfriend

Sen. Blumenthal has a long career of fighting for consumers and has already made an impact in the fight against blackouts. In a December letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, Blumenthal urged the commission to reexamine its sports blackout rules. Blumenthal has also previously written to the NFL about the way it “arbitrarily” blacked out New York Giants fans living in Connecticut.

“Sports fans and consumers around the country are very grateful to Sen. Blumenthal for his leadership on the blackout issue,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “Sen. Blumenthal recognizes the fundamental unfairness in the way sports leagues subject their fans to blackouts.”

Sen. Blumenthal: I’m honored to accept the Most Valuable Policymaker award from the Sports Fans Coalition. Sports are a large part of our economy, generating enormous revenues from sales of tickets, merchandise, and programming licenses. For all the positive benefits that sports provide, it’s unfortunate that some fans are unable to watch their teams compete. Blackouts are unfair to fans and highly anti-consumer, whether the result of a league policy or an agreement — or lack of agreement — between networks and content owners. The Sports Fans Coalition is hitting it out of the park on behalf of fans in Connecticut and across the country, and I’m proud to work with them.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Barton, Brad Blakeman

Rep. Joe Barton has led the charge against the corrupt BCS bowl system. In 2009, he called college football leaders to the Hill to explain why there is not a fair and equitable playoff in college football. He also introduced legislation prohibiting a game from being called a “national championship” unless it results from a playoff.

In December, Barton and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) formed the Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus to examine issues surrounding college sports, particularly the lack of a true playoff in college football. Barton has also introduced legislation and called hearings related to college football’s postseason.

“College football fans around the country are grateful to Rep. Barton for leading the charge to reform college football’s problematic posteason,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “He has not been afraid to hold sports and educational leaders accountable for the system they oversee. There’s no doubt those leaders are reforming the system, in part, because of Rep. Barton’s efforts.”

Rep. Barton: I was lucky enough to be named MVP during my days playing baseball and it is nice to have those initials attached to my name again – this time for my work in Washington. Thanks in part to our efforts the BCS is on life support and it appears a ‘Plus One’ system is in the works. It isn’t a true playoff and still leaves too many decisions up to computer servers, but we are now moving in the right direction.

It is important to remember that college athletics has transformed over the past several years into a billion dollar business and its reach far exceeds the campuses where it is played. Many of these colleges are publicly funded and we need to make sure taxpayer dollars are being used properly. I am honored to be recognized as a Most Valuable Policymaker by the Sports Fans Coalition.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)

Rep. Cohen has been an important voice in the fight for a college football playoff. He has emphasized that a playoff will generate far more money for our schools and universities, which is critical.

“College football fans around the country are grateful to Rep. Cohen for his efforts to bring about a true postseason playoff,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “Rep. Cohen’s calls for a bona fide playoff have undoubtedly been heard by those in charge of college football.”

Rep. Cohen: It is an honor to be recognized by the Sports Fans Coalition for my work to bring a playoff system to Division I college football. College athletes and fans both deserve to know who the best team is and the only way to truly know that is by having a playoff. I look forward to continuing my work to create a playoff in college football that creates millions of dollars in new revenue for our public universities and creates a true national championship.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Higgins, Dave Goodfriend

Rep. Higgins has repeatedly called for the NFL to eliminate its blackout rule from the floor of the House of Representatives and has called for the FCC to eliminate its own blackout rules.

“Buffalo Bills fans and fans around the country have an enormous ally in Rep. Brian Higgins,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “Bills fans are among the most passionate in the league, but continue to be subjected to unfair and counterproductive blackouts. Higgins hasn’t been afraid to stand up to the NFL on this issue.”

Rep. Higgins: The critical role sports fans play in helping drive Western New York’s regional economy is often overlooked. Their voices should be heard and their interests, and that of the greater community, protected. I am proud to represent some of the most passionate and loyal sports enthusiasts in the nation. It’s great to work with the Sports Fans Coalition to fight for the fans.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louis.)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Scalise, Donna Wilkinson, Brad Blakeman, Dave Goodfriend

In December, Rep. Scalise introduced the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act, which would deregulate much of the media market, including special interest provisions enacted at the behest of sports leagues and their television distributors.

“Simply watching a game on television can be needlessly frustrating for sports fans because of blackouts and disputes between media companies,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “Rep. Scalise is standing up for fans and consumers and saying enough is enough. His legislation is important and long overdue.”

Rep. Scalise: I’m proud to be recognized by the Sports Fans Coalition for my legislation, the Next Generation TV Marketplace Act, which cuts government red tape so sports fans and other consumers can enjoy their games and their favorite TV shows without government interference. I will continue advocating for free market policies that benefit sports fans and consumers throughout Louisiana and the nation.

RECAP: Sports Fans Coalition’s Spring Kickoff

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:42:33 +0000

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

Brian Frederick, Sen. Blumenthal, David Goodfriend

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Barton, Brad Blakeman

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)

Rep. Cohen has been an important voice in the fight for a college football playoff. He has emphasized that a playoff will generate far more money for our schools and universities, which is critical.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Higgins, Dave Goodfriend

Rep. Higgins has repeatedly called for the NFL to eliminate its blackout rule from the floor of the House of Representatives and has called for the FCC to eliminate its own blackout rules.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louis.)

Brian Frederick, Rep. Scalise, Donna Wilkinson, Brad Blakeman, Dave Goodfriend

Sen. Blumenthal: Sports Fans Coalition “Hitting It Out of the Park”

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:03:08 +0000

Last night, Sports Fans Coalition held its first annual Spring Kickoff and honored several “Most Valuable Policymakers” for their support of fans and fans’ rights. Here are some of their comments about receiving the honor and working with Sports Fans Coalition.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.):

I’m honored to accept the Most Valuable Policymaker award from the Sports Fans Coalition. Sports are a large part of our economy, generating enormous revenues from sales of tickets, merchandise, and programming licenses. For all the positive benefits that sports provide, it’s unfortunate that some fans are unable to watch their teams compete. Blackouts are unfair to fans and highly anti-consumer, whether the result of a league policy or an agreement — or lack of agreement — between networks and content owners. The Sports Fans Coalition is hitting it out of the park on behalf of fans in Connecticut and across the country, and I’m proud to work with them.

Re. Joe Barton (R-Texas):

I was lucky enough to be named MVP during my days playing baseball and it is nice to have those initials attached to my name again – this time for my work in Washington. Thanks in part to our efforts the BCS is on life support and it appears a ‘Plus One’ system is in the works. It isn’t a true playoff and still leaves too many decisions up to computer servers, but we are now moving in the right direction.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.):

It is an honor to be recognized by the Sports Fans Coalition for my work to bring a playoff system to Division I college football. College athletes and fans both deserve to know who the best team is and the only way to truly know that is by having a playoff. I look forward to continuing my work to create a playoff in college football that creates millions of dollars in new revenue for our public universities and creates a true national championship.

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.):

The critical role sports fans play in helping drive Western New York’s regional economy is often overlooked. Their voices should be heard and their interests, and that of the greater community, protected. I am proud to represent some of the most passionate and loyal sports enthusiasts in the nation. It’s great to work with the Sports Fans Coalition to fight for the fans.

Sports Fans Coalition Honors “Most Valuable Policymakers”

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:04:15 +0000

WASHINGTON — Sports Fans Coalition, the nation’s largest fan advocacy organization, on Tuesday presented its “Most Valuable Policymaker” award to six Members of Congress and an FCC Commissioner who have stood up for fans. The 2012 recipients of the MVP award are Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell.

“These policymakers have taken courageous stands on behalf of fans and taxpayers,” Sports Fans Coalition Executive Director Brian Frederick said. “Specifically, this year’s honorees have stood up for professional football fans who want to end television blackouts of their teams’ games, and college football fans who want to see a bona fide college playoff.”

Brown and Blumenthal were among five senators who called on the Federal Communications Commission to reform its blackout rules. Brown and Blumenthal have also written letters to the NFL expressing concern about the league’s blackout policies, as has Higgins, whose district is in Western New York, where Buffalo Bills fans have been repeatedly subjected to blackouts. Scalise has introduced legislation that would, among other things, eliminate the FCC’s Sports Blackout Rule.

“Disabled and elderly fans, as well as taxpayers, are unfairly subjected to blackouts and the NFL refuses to eliminate the practice on its own,” Frederick said. “These policymakers have displayed great leadership on this issue so far and we hope they’ll continue to fight for fans.”

Barton and Cohen in December formed the Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus to examine issues surrounding college sports, particularly the lack of a true playoff in college football. Barton has also introduced legislation and called hearings related to college football’s postseason.

“There’s no doubt that the scrutiny from Reps. Barton and Cohen and others has helped put pressure on the leaders in college football to change the postseason,” Frederick said. “If the new playoff format is not fair, I’m confident Barton and Cohen will speak out for fans everywhere.”

Sports Fans Coalition is based in Washington and was founded in 2009 by former members of the Clinton and Bush White Houses. It serves to fight for fans on public policy issues like stadium subsidization, blackouts and college athletics. The awards were presented on Tuesday night at a reception on Capitol Hill.

WOW: St. Louis Rams Asking for $700 Million in Renovations to 17-Year-Old Dome

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:02:53 +0000

When it was built in 1995, St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome was one of the biggest public financing projects in stadium history. The stadium cost $256 in bonds but by the time the debt on those is paid off, the public will have kicked in $720 million. The dome was designed to lure an NFL team back to St. Louis, which it did. But the most significant part of that effort was the lease that St. Louis signed with the Rams ownership. The lease requires the city to keep the stadium in the “top tier” of NFL stadiums or else the Rams can break their 30-year lease. What exactly constitutes “top tier” is the multimillion dollar question though.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission on February 1 offered up a $124 million plan for a new stadium, windows and club seats. But that’s not near enough for the Rams. The team wants a retractable roof and the demolition of half the stadium for other purposes. They haven’t officially put a price tag on their requested renovations, but a construction company estimates it will be $700 million and would make the convention center largely useless for two years.

If the Rams are to stay in St. Louis, the team and the city will have to meet somewhere between $124 million and $700 million, but it may ultimately be up to an arbitrator to decide what renovations are necessary for a “top-tier” stadium. But rest assured, whatever those renovations are, they are sure to cost the public a lot more money…

(H/t FieldofSchemes.com)

Sports Fans Coalition’s Spring Kickoff — You’re Invited!

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:36 +0000

Sports fans and supporters of Sports Fans Coalition:

We are hosting our first annual Spring Kickoff on May 15 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. We plan to honor several policymakers from both parties who have fought for fans on issues like blackouts and the BCS. We’ll have free beer and barbecue and everyone should be dressed in team hats and jerseys so it should be a lot of fun. Best of all, you’re invited!

If you’d like to attend, see the details below and shoot us an email at RSVP@sportsfans.org letting us know how many people you’d like to bring. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED so RSVP ASAP to secure your spot. And feel free to invite friends and colleagues.

See you there!

MUST READ: Minnesota Vikings Get Their Stadium, But Fans Still Subjected to Blackout Rule

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:34:30 +0000

Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel is best known for being the America’s foremost critic of the BCS. But in his latest column, he tackles the NFL’s blackout rule, Minnesota’s new stadium for the Vikings, and how the two were (far too) briefly intertwined. And, as usual, he does so beautifully.

You can read the column here: Vikings get their new stadium, but fans are still subjected to ‘blackout’ rule

Still No Public Accountability in BCS-Playoff Process

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:54:12 +0000

It is very troubling that the future of college football’s postseason, which in turn affects entire athletic departments, which in turn affect entire public universities, is being determined by 11 conference commissioners and the BCS’ executive director, none of whom are public employees. There have been no public representatives in the meetings that have taken place and none are scheduled to be included in the June 20 meetings in Chicago. (But rest assured that television executives have been included.)

Sure, public university presidents will ultimately have the final say on whatever proposal(s) the conference commissioners and BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock put in front of them, but why didn’t this process start with them? And think they have the political will or resources to truly reshape the system? Not a chance. College football is still very much in the hands of a cartel of conference commissioners and cronyism is still rampant. Most troubling is the likely possibility that the two semifinal games (and possibly the final game) will be played in the existing bowl structure. Dan Wetzel, author of Death to the BCS, explains why this is so problematic:

Bowls have been horrible partners – unless you were an athletic director who received free Caribbean cruises or complimentary scotch and cigars on the 19th hole of the Arizona Biltmore. Of course, those were paid with what was college football’s money in the first place.

There isn’t a single bit of financial sense in outsourcing your most valuable product. None. Federal tax filings show that when BCS bowls have hosted the title game, they pocket between $10 million and $12 million in profits – even after all the high salaries and strip club tabs.

Now the commissioners want to give the bowls the semifinals, two games which each should be worth more than the current title game? When you extend it over an eight- or 10-year period, then college administrators will be handing over an estimated $300 million (and likely more) in profits to their already well-greased friends in what essentially is a no-bid contract.
That’s $300 million-plus that should stay with the schools.

Think our public schools and universities couldn’t use $300 million-plus? If college football’s playoff are simply handed over to the bowl games (and university presidents are complicit), the heart and soul of the BCS will still very much exist, even if the name does not. It may be time for Congress to intervene — before it’s too late.

New Vikings Stadium Finally a Go — Time Will Tell at What Cost

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:27:57 +0000

The Minnesota Vikings have received their massive public subsidy for a new stadium. The Minnesota legislature passed stadium legislation and all that’s left is for Gov. Mark Dayton to sign the bill, which he will likely do. According to the AP:

The deal guarantees the Vikings’ future in Minnesota for three decades.

The team would pay 49 percent of construction costs: $477 million, which is $50 million more than owners initially committed. But the public expense is still high: $348 million for the state and $150 million for the city of Minneapolis.

But according to Field of Schemes author and stadium expert Neil deMause, Minneapolis’ share will end up being much higher:

The city of Minneapolis will put in $150 million in cash plus $189 million over 30 years for operating costs, a total that (counting the cost of borrowing the money, since the taxes to pay for it will be tied up paying off the convention center for the next few years) should come to around $375-525 million in present value.

Let’s just hope Minneapolis doesn’t have to start slashing social services when the debts begin to pile up, as Hamilton County (Cincinnati) has had to do to pay off their stadium debt…

WOW! Minnesota Senate Passes Amendment Banning Blackouts in New Stadium!

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:05:29 +0000

The Minnesota Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment to Vikings stadium legislation that would ban blackouts in the new stadium. We’re just learning of the news and will tell you more about it when know more but this is a big victory for Vikings fans. Sports Fans Coalition called for such an amendment two weeks ago today: Our Proposed Vikings Stadium Legislation Amendment: No Blackouts!

Tom Hauser, chief political reporter for KSTP-TV in St. Paul-Minneapolis just tweeted: “MN Senate just passed amendment preventing TV blackout of Vikings games. Senate president says 57 amendments remain!”

And Jim Ragsdale, Star Tribune Capitol reporter tweeted: “Blackout ban mania sweeps the Senate. Amendment wins 53-13″.

We hope the House passes a similar measure and the NFL is forced to eliminate blackouts or risk losing public financing for a new stadium. Not blacking out games for publicly financed stadiums is the least the NFL can do…especially considering they don’t work in the first place.