Federal bill would let cities bid to keep pro sports teams
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) have introduced federal legislation that would require owners of professional sports teams to give their community a chance to buy the team before relocating.
Why it matters: Questions about the Spurs potentially relocating if voters didn't approve public funding for a new arena roiled San Antonio last fall.
- The team never publicly threatened to move, but officials and voters suggested they would. Voters ultimately passed the arena funding.
Between the lines: Major league sports teams often use the threat of relocation — real or perceived — to pressure local governments and voters to put tax dollars toward new arenas and stadiums.
- Economists generally say the public pays and owners profit.
- Casar still represents downtown San Antonio, until new U.S. House districts take effect next year.
How it works: The bill would make owners provide notice one year before moving the team to another metro area or across state lines.
- That's meant to give locals a chance to come together with an offer for the team. That could be a government entity, a nonprofit or public partnership, a company, or just a person or group.
- There would be a penalty for owners who don't comply.
- Teams wouldn't be prevented from moving if a local buyer couldn't "meet a fair and reasonable price, as assessed by a team of appraisers," per a news release announcing the bill.
Reality check: A bill pushed by progressives is unlikely to make it far in the Republican-controlled U.S. House.
What they're saying: "Far too many Americans know the pain of losing a team, and far too many communities have had to fork over billions in subsidies just to keep an already profitable team home," Casar said in a statement.
- "The Home Team Act would make sure that the Spurs stay in my home district, in San Antonio," he said at a news conference announcing the legislation.