It’s 2024 and Fans Need a Bill of Rights
Years ago airline fliers had finally had enough and lawmakers stepped in and mandated how travelers are treated by the airlines. If you are bumped from a flight, your bag is lost or you are required to stay overnight there is now direct financial compensation tied to it. It was long overdue. Unfortunately, sports fans don’t enjoy such treatment. I would argue that fans have never been treated worse. I asked my students at Temple University for some ideas of what would constitute new fans rights.
A game needs to be played within 90 minutes of its starting time in MLB
Fans shouldn’t be expected to stay for hours past the scheduled time. A Refund or full replacement value ticket if available should be offered. A four-hour rain delay isn’t acceptable.
If you buy tickets to an NFL game and its time or date is flexed you get compensated
The NFL doesn’t care if they flex a game from a Sunday afternoon to a Sunday night. A Sunday game can be moved to Monday night. Fans who travel from out of town book flights and hotel rooms and are expected to change their plans on the fly. Can they receive a full refund on their tickets or get compensated for travel costs?
NBA fans should get price protection on load management nights
It’s major for fans and the NBA teams treat the fans as a necessary evil. Teams in pro sports use surge pricing for the biggest games, so why not reward fans who pay premium prices and then get delivered healthy players watching? How about a voucher for food and beverage discount or ticket discount.
Fees should be transparent when buying and comparing ticket prices
One price shopping when using any teams ticket buying site. Why is emailing someone a ticket requiring a “delivery charge”?
Jersey Assurance policy on real, not replica, jerseys
If within 6 months of purchase, you can have jersey re-lettered and re-numbered for free if a player is traded or released by the organization. Don’t you think the teams would sell more authentic jerseys if fans had this policy?
Stadium move-up policy
If you buy a seat in the upper deck you can move up into better seats after a certain pre-determined time. Why have an empty lower bowl? You can create a lot of good will that pays off for your franchise.
Do you have any ideas that would protect fans rights?
Please pass them along at [email protected]