Home Team Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill would ban professional sports leagues from prohibiting community or government ownership of franchises. This opens the door for fan-owned cooperatives and city governments to own teams, similar to the Green Bay Packers model.
• Before moving a team across state lines or shutting it down, the owner must give the local community a fair chance to buy the franchise. Priority goes first to local governments and fan cooperatives, then to nonprofits and public-private partnerships, and finally to local private buyers.
• The sale price would be set by professional appraisers appointed by the Treasury Department, and any public money, tax credits, or subsidies used to build the team's stadium would be subtracted from the price.
• Owners must give at least one year of notice before relocating or eliminating a franchise, including public announcements on social media, to the news media, and to all interested parties.
• The bill covers seven major leagues: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, WNBA, and NWSL. Owners who violate the law face fines of $30,000 per day, and state or local governments can sue for injunctive and monetary relief.

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