Local communities would get a chance to buy their sports teams before they move or close.
This bill would give local communities and governments the first chance to buy their professional sports teams if owners want to move them or shut them down. It would also stop sports leagues from blocking public or government ownership. This aims to keep teams in their current cities and addresses the financial impact on local taxpayers.
Today, professional sports team owners can move their teams or close them without first offering them to local groups. Sports leagues can also stop cities or the public from owning a team. If this bill becomes law, team owners would have to offer their team for sale to local governments or community groups at a fair price (minus public stadium money) before relocating or shutting down. Leagues would also be banned from stopping public or government ownership.
HR 8097 · 119th Congress · March 26, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
Sign in to see your representatives' phone numbers