SFC Endorses Senator Booker's 'Justice for Athletes' Plan

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.

"Senator Booker's 'Justice for Athletes' plan offers real, tangible solutions to many of the problems that plague sports today," said Brian Hess, Executive Director of Sports Fans Coalition.

Senator Booker's plan would give college athletes their rights back by allowing them to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness. It also aims to improve the educational opportunities of these athletes so that they can be students first. He also tackles sports leagues' anti-competitive business practices, which only exploit workers and fans.

To accomplish this, and more, Booker would form a new federal commission to advance justice and integrity in sports. "A federal commission would bring the US in line with many other developed nations. The decentralized nature of sports governance has given the leagues unchecked power to abuse athletes and fans," added Hess. “Senator Booker's new federal commission on justice and integrity in sports would be able to tackle the problems in the sports industry head-on, and likely yield the most positive and sustainable change to American Sports. Sports Fans Coalition wholly endorses Senator Booker's 'Justice for Athletes' plan, and calls for every candidate to join in Booker's vision."