SB2596 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 34140 HLH 64045 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2596

Introduced 10/18/2023, by Sen. Robert Peters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Fan-Funded Stadium Act. Provides that, if any professional sports team (i) uses a tax-supported facility for most of its home games during the regular season of the professional sports league in which the team participates and (ii) receives financial assistance from the State or a political subdivision of the State, then that professional sports team shall not cease playing most of its home games at the tax-supported facility and begin playing most of its home games elsewhere unless the owner of the professional sports team enters into an agreement with the municipality in which the tax-supported facility is located permitting the team to play most of its home games elsewhere or gives the municipality in which the facility is located not less than 6 months' advance notice of the owner's intention for the team to cease playing most of its home games at the facility and gives the municipality or any individual or group of individuals who reside in the area the opportunity to purchase the team.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning sports facilities.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Fan-Funded Stadium Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Government subsidy" means a method of financing the construction or renovation of a tax-supported facility using State or municipal bonds, tax exemptions, or direct payments of public moneys.

"Tax-supported facility" means a sports stadium located in the State that is constructed or renovated, in whole or in part, using a government subsidy, whether that construction or renovation occurred before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

Section 10. Professional sports teams; home games. If any professional sports team (i) uses a tax-supported facility for most of its home games during the regular season of the professional sports league in which the team participates and (ii) receives financial assistance from the State or a political subdivision of the State, then that professional sports team shall not cease playing most of its home games at the tax-supported facility and begin playing most of its home games elsewhere unless the owner of the professional sports team either:

(1) enters into an agreement with the municipality in which the tax-supported facility is located permitting the team to play most of its home games elsewhere; or

(2) gives the municipality in which the facility is located not less than 6 months' advance notice of the owner's intention for the team to cease playing most of its home games at the facility and, during the 6 months after that notice, gives the municipality or any individual or group of individuals who reside in the area the opportunity to purchase the team.

Section 15. Enforcement. If a professional sports team does not comply with the provisions of this Act, then the municipality in which the tax-supported facility is located may file a complaint in the circuit court for the county in which the tax-supported facility is located seeking injunctive relief, actual damages, or both.