Senate introduces Home Team Act to block sports team relocations without local consent, citing threat

The proposed Home Team Act would require sports teams owners provide one year's notice before relocating and allow communities to purchase the team at fair market value; U.S. Rep. Greg Casar introduced this legislation as a "keep-the-Bears-in-Chicago bill."

A new Democratic bill introduced in Congress would require local interests the opportunity to purchase a sports team before relocation is permitted under its "Home Team Act." Although co-sponsor Greg Casar anticipates eventual bipartisan support and significant interest from Illinois lawmakers, he acknowledges that passing or signing this legislation into law remains unlikely given current political priorities.

Senators Bernie Sanders and others have introduced legislation requiring team owners like the owner of the Chicago Bears to offer local communities a chance to purchase their teams before relocation. This proposed Home Team Act aims specifically at preventing major franchises from leaving cities, citing recent reports that Indiana lawmakers passed stadium bills signaling potential moves for NFL players in Hammond or other areas away from Illinois and beyond

U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (Illinois) and Greg Casar introduced the Home Team Act in response to a border battle between Chicago municipalities over relocating NFL's franchise, mandating one-year notice for team moves across state lines or metropolitan areas while allowing communities time to purchase teams at fair market value if threatened with relocation.