As avid fans of professional sports teams, the excitement and anticipation surrounding new player signings can quickly turn into disappointment when those players fail to live up to the expectations set by their lucrative contracts. We've seen this pattern repeat itself too often in various teams and sports: Pettersen, Edler, OEL, & Erikkson with the Canucks, Huberdeau with the Flames, Guerrero Jr with the Jays, Watson with the Browns, Golladay with the Giants, Parsons with the Grizzlies, and Mozgov and Deng with the Lakers, just to name a few prominent examples.

When athletes do not perform to the level that secured their contract, fans suffer. We, the fans, invest our time, money, and support into these teams—and in return, we deserve a commitment to excellence. Imagine the frustration of buying tickets, merchandise, and streaming services, only to witness players delivering subpar performances season after season.

In most industries, professionals are held accountable for their performance through structured evaluations and performance-based incentives. Sports should be no different. Currently, many professional athletes continue to collect large sums of money regardless of their on-field or on-court contributions. By implementing performance clauses in all professional sports contracts, we create a fair and accountable environment that motivates athletes to consistently perform at their best. These clauses could adjust salaries based on performance metrics, thereby aligning pay with actual contributions and making room under team salary caps to explore other talent if needed.

Not only would this approach benefit fans and franchises, but it would also enhance the level of competition across leagues. Athletes would be incentivized to maintain their peak performance, knowing that their financial rewards are tied to delivering the product they promised.

Join us in urging the leadership of professional leagues, players' associations, and team owners to negotiate and implement performance-based contracts for the athletes that bring so much joy and entertainment to our lives. Let’s hold our sports heroes to a standard that reflects their role in the community and their financial rewards.

We call on sports fans and stakeholders to support this change and ensure our beloved sports teams prioritize both accountability and excellence. Please sign this petition to make performance clauses a standard part of all professional sports contracts.