102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2915

 

Introduced 10/13/2021, by Sen. Robert Peters

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Public-Supported Professional Sports Facility Act, which may be referred to as the Monsters of the Midway Act. Defines "facility". Provides that an owner of a professional sports team that for most of its home games uses a facility that is (i) owned by a unit of local government or (ii) supported by unit of local government with taxes or tax reductions may not cease playing most of its home games at the facility and begin playing most of its home games elsewhere unless the owner: (1) enters into an agreement with the unit of local government that owns the facility or supports the facility with taxes or tax reductions permitting the team to play most of its home games elsewhere; or (2) gives the unit of local government that owns the facility or supports the facility with taxes or tax reductions in which the facility is located not less than 6 months' advance notice of the owner's intention to cease playing most of its home games at the facility and, during the 6 months after such notice, gives: (A) the unit of local government the opportunity to purchase more than 50% ownership in the professional sports team; (B) the unit of local government first refusal to the purchase the professional sports team; or (C) an individual or group of individuals who reside in the area of the facility the opportunity to purchase the team. Provides that the Act applies all leases, contracts, licenses, or other agreements entered into, extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. Effective immediately.


LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2915LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b

1    AN ACT concerning professional sports team facilities.
 
2    WHEREAS, Governmental financial support of professional
3sports teams is a common occurrence throughout the United
4States and the world; and
 
5    WHEREAS, While the public may have an interest in
6financially supporting professional sports teams though its
7government, professional sports teams often leave the
8community or state after receiving substantial governmental
9financial support; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Other governments (such as Ohio, in Section 9.67
11of the Ohio Revised Code, and Germany, in the structure of its
12Bundesliga) have ensured that, if the government provides
13financial support for a professional sports team facility, the
14government retains an option for a vested financial interest
15in the team should the team move to a different community; and
 
16    WHEREAS, This State should likewise ensure that a local
17community retains an option for a vested financial interest in
18a professional sports team that the local community
19financially supports; therefore
 
20    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
21represented in the General Assembly:
 

 

 

SB2915- 2 -LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b

1    Section 1. Short title; references to Act.
2    (a) This Act may be cited to as the Public-Supported
3Professional Sports Facility Act.
4    (b) This Act may be referred to as the Monsters of the
5Midway Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "facility" has
7the meaning given to that term in Section 2 of the Illinois
8Sports Facilities Authority Act.
 
9    Section 10. Use of facilities for home games. An owner of a
10professional sports team that for most of its home games uses a
11facility that is (i) owned by a unit of local government or
12(ii) supported by unit of local government with taxes or tax
13reductions may not cease playing most of its home games at the
14facility and begin playing most of its home games elsewhere
15unless the owner:
16        (1) enters into an agreement with the unit of local
17    government that owns the facility or supports the facility
18    with taxes or tax reductions permitting the team to play
19    most of its home games elsewhere; or
20        (2) gives the unit of local government that owns the
21    facility or supports the facility with taxes or tax
22    reductions in which the facility is located not less than
23    6 months' advance notice of the owner's intention to cease

 

 

SB2915- 3 -LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b

1    playing most of its home games at the facility and, during
2    the 6 months after such notice, gives:
3            (A) the unit of local government the opportunity
4        to purchase more than 50% ownership in the
5        professional sports team;
6            (B) the unit of local government first refusal to
7        the purchase the professional sports team; or
8            (C) an individual or group of individuals who
9        reside in the area of the facility the opportunity to
10        purchase the team.
 
11    Section 10. Applicability. This Act applies to all leases,
12contracts, licenses, or other agreements entered into,
13extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this
14Act.
 
15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16becoming law.