In a bold move to end what they describe as “corporate welfare” for billionaire owners, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas) introduced a transformative piece of legislation on Thursday: the Home Team Act.
The bill aims to dismantle the long-standing leverage used by professional sports teams to extract billions in taxpayer-funded subsidies by threatening to move to other cities. By federalizing principles similar to Ohio’s “Modell Law,” the Act seeks to stabilize the bond between teams and their communities.
The Chicago Bears: The First Major Test
The timing of the bill is no coincidence. It directly targets the ongoing saga of the Chicago Bears, who have been flirting with a move to Hammond, Indiana, after 104 years in Illinois. With Indiana legislators already approving nearly $1 billion in potential public funding for a new domed stadium, the Home Team Act would throw a massive wrench into those plans.
If enacted, the Bears could not cross state lines without first offering the franchise for sale to the local Chicago community, giving fans and local investors a year to match a “fair market price.”
Key Provisions of the Legislation
The Home Team Act introduces several strict requirements for any team in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, or MLS looking to relocate:
- The One-Year Rule: Owners must provide a formal notice at least 12 months before a move that involves crossing state lines or changing Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
- Right of First Refusal: During that year, the local community—including government entities, nonprofits, or fan-based groups—has the right to purchase the team at a price set by independent appraisers.
- The “Packers Model”: The bill explicitly encourages the community-ownership model used by the Green Bay Packers, which has kept the team in one of the NFL’s smallest markets for over a century.
- Daily Fines: Franchise owners who fail to comply would face federal penalties, including fines of $30,000 per day.
Political Voices and Hurdles
“The American people are sick and tired of billionaires threatening to move teams unless they get hundreds of millions in corporate welfare,” Bernie Sanders stated. Greg Casar added that the bill is about “leveling the playing field” so leagues work for the fans who sustain them, not just the oligarchs who own them.
However, the bill faces a steep climb. Critics, including Indiana Governor Mike Braun, have already labeled the move as federal overreach. Furthermore, with a divided Congress and potential legal challenges regarding private property rights, the path to the President’s desk remains uncertain.