Home Team Act

Summary#

This bill, the Home Team Act of 2026, would limit how professional sports franchises can relocate and who may own them. It would stop sports leagues from banning ownership of a franchise by a government entity or by members of the general public, and from blocking transfer of a franchise to those owners. A franchise owner could not move a team across State lines or eliminate the franchise unless the owner first offers a fair opportunity to buy the team to local entities in this order: (A) a local government or a community cooperative; (B) a local nonprofit or a public-private partnership including a cooperative or nonprofit; and (C) private persons, local consortia, or private companies that operate in the community. "Proper notice" must be given at least one year before the season in which the team would play in the new location or before elimination.

The Secretary of the Treasury would set up a team of professional appraisers to determine fair market price for a franchise. The appraisal must subtract any government payments, credits, or subsidies used to build the stadium where the team plays most home games. The Attorney General may assess a civil penalty of $30,000 per day for violations, and a State or local government unit may sue for injunctive and monetary relief. The bill lists specific leagues covered, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL. It also says the Act does not interfere with employees' collective bargaining rights or existing collective bargaining agreements.

What it means for you#

  • If your community has a professional team covered by the named leagues, local governments, cooperatives, and certain nonprofits or local private groups would get the first chance to buy the team before it moves or is eliminated.
  • Team owners would have to provide at least one year of notice and offer the team for fair market value as determined by Treasury appraisers.
  • Local governments could sue if a team owner violates these rules.

Expenses#

  • The bill sets a civil penalty of $30,000 per day for each day an owner violates the purchase or notice requirements.
  • The Secretary of the Treasury must establish a team of professional appraisers to set fair prices; the bill does not specify funding levels or appropriations for that team. No other federal cost estimates are provided in the text.
  • Appraisals must deduct the total amount of any government payment, credit, or subsidy used to build the stadium where the franchise played most home games.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s findings state that proponents believe professional sports teams have big economic and cultural effects on their home communities, that relocation abandons local fans, and that use of public funds for new stadiums to attract teams can harm taxpayers and displace residents. Proponents also note that professional sports affect interstate commerce through broadcasts, travel, and league revenue sharing, and they argue Congress can act to protect communities and require opportunity for community ownership.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.