Since 2019, the six entities have spent more than $15 million on some of the most powerful lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., and an undisclosed amount (likely in the millions) on well-connected public relations firms, public record and expert analysis show. Using some of the same high-powered lobbyists and PR professionals as Purdue Pharma and the Biden-Harris presidential campaign, they've manipulated the conversation on Capitol Hill, shaped media discussions to reflect their talking points, and influenced multiple legislative proposals.
Using these power brokers, they're asking for three things: an antitrust exemption (free reign on dictating their own compensation rules), a law specifying that college athletes don't count as employees, and the ability to preempt conflicting state laws. The campaign could halt the extensive push for athlete unionization and employee status as well as allow the NCAA to place new restrictions on existing reforms like NIL rights. Athletes could also lose any legal pathway to challenge amateurism in court in the future.
At the same time, most athletes don't know that a debate over the future of amateurism is taking place at all, let alone in Congress—or that the debate could result in a loss of economic power, advocates and experts agree
Front Office Sports: 'A Breathtaking Lobbying Campaign': The NCAA's Sophisticated Effort to Save Amateurism
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