Bill Text: IL SB2915 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-10-13 - Referred to Assignments [SB2915 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB2915-Introduced.html

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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
SB2915 LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b
AN ACT concerning professional sports team facilities.
WHEREAS, Governmental financial support of professional
sports teams is a common occurrence throughout the United
States and the world; and
WHEREAS, While the public may have an interest in
financially supporting professional sports teams though its
government, professional sports teams often leave the
community or state after receiving substantial governmental
financial support; and
WHEREAS, Other governments (such as Ohio, in Section 9.67
of the Ohio Revised Code, and Germany, in the structure of its
Bundesliga) have ensured that, if the government provides
financial support for a professional sports team facility, the
government retains an option for a vested financial interest
in the team should the team move to a different community; and
WHEREAS, This State should likewise ensure that a local
community retains an option for a vested financial interest in
a professional sports team that the local community
financially supports; therefore
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

SB2915 - 2 - LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b
Section 1. Short title; references to Act.
(a) This Act may be cited to as the Public-Supported
Professional Sports Facility Act.
(b) This Act may be referred to as the Monsters of the
Midway Act.
Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "facility" has
the meaning given to that term in Section 2 of the Illinois
Sports Facilities Authority Act.
Section 10. Use of facilities for home games. 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

SB2915 - 3 - LRB102 20353 AWJ 29209 b
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.
Section 10. Applicability. This Act applies to all leases,
contracts, licenses, or other agreements entered into,
extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this
Act.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.