Statement on DOJ Settlement with Live Nation Entertainment
"American sports fans' worst-case scenario came true: the DOJ caved to political pressure and settled the Live Nation/Ticketmaster lawsuit. Anything less than a structural breakup of the two companies would have been a loss, but this settlement is especially weak. The DOJ had an opportunity to inject much-needed competition into the space, but they let the pitch go by. We hope that the bipartisan group of state AGs will step up to the plate and pick up where the DOJ left off.”
Sports Fans Coalition Statement on the Firing of DOJ Antitrust Chief Gail Slater
Sports Fans Coalition views the abrupt ousting of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater as deeply troubling especially in light of recent reports that the DOJ is settling with Live Nation/Ticketmaster after the company hired high-powered, politically connected lobbyists, rather than choose to defend themselves in the court of law, as Live Nation’s Executive Vice President, Dan Wall, insinuated they would do when asked under oath by Senator Klobuchar about whether the DOJ’s lawsuit should be resolved based on the law and not by political pressure.
The Bot Crime Family: Inside Ticketmaster’s Racket
For years, Ticketmaster has played the innocent victim, telling fans and lawmakers that scalpers and bots were the villains behind sky-high ticket prices. Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary have claimed they’re the victims merely helpless bystanders in a technological arms race. But the FTC’s new lawsuit rips the mask off. This isn’t a victim story. This is a mob story.
The Cardfather: How Fanatics Consolidated Power and Killed a Hobby
For decades, competition defined the card market. Companies like Topps and Panini vied for licenses, which kept prices stable and quality high. But that era ended when Fanatics executed what the complaint describes as a coordinated licensing scheme that monopolized every major sport. Now the industry looks like a bad mafia movie, except Fanatics CEO, Michael Rubin, lacks the charisma of Al Pacino or James Gandolfini.
SFC Files with DOJ/FTC About Ticketing Policy
We have long led the charge for fans’ rights, and we applauded President Trump’s Executive Order 14254 for taking direct aim at the monopolistic practices plaguing the ticketing industry. In response, we endorsed the TICKET Act as a powerful step forward. For years, SFC has pushed for reform through comments to the FTC and DOJ, active participation in federal workshops and roundtables, and strong support for antitrust action against Live Nation-Ticketmaster. But there’s still more to do.
To truly protect fans, we need bold action on market abuses, transferability rights, deceptive pricing, exclusive contracts, and the rampant lack of enforcement of existing laws. The momentum is building. It’s time to finish the job and, in the words of Kid Rock, “Make America Fun Again.”
Throwing the Flag on the Cox/Charter Merger
Charter and Cox want to close a multibillion dollar mega-merger. Let’s be clear: this deal could sideline millions of fans. Both Cox and Charter have a well-documented track record of blackouts and high-stakes carriage disputes that have shut fans out of watching their favorite teams. Remember missing that key rivalry game because of a contract fight? They’re one of the culprits. Now they want to grow bigger, gain more leverage, and jack up the pressure on fans who’ve ditched cable in favor of streamingThat’s not a merger. That’s a recipe for more blackouts, more frustration, and less access for fans.
SFC Files Amicus Brief in NFL Sunday Ticket Antitrust Litigation
SFC filed an amicus brief in the ongoing NFL Sunday Ticket antitrust litigation, arguing that the league abuses its antitrust exemption, causing harm to fans nationwide and that the overturning of the multi-billion dollar verdict is wrong. We are outraged that, once again, the NFL may get away with restricting access and charging higher prices, and that fans are left holding the bag, even after the judge affirmed the jury’s verdict that the NFL violated antitrust laws. We can not let the NFL get away with it again!
Fubo throws in the towel despite having the upper hand
In August, Fubo delivered a stunning upset against Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery – getting a preliminary injunction granted against the wildly anticompetitive Venu Sports. Now they’ve abandoned the cause altogether, opting to be acquired by Disney instead.