Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill that Could Keep the Padres in San Diego

The Home Team Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate which would if pass keep the Padres in San Diego — at least for another year.

Here’s Phillip Molnar at the San Diego U-T:

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is behind a bill that would prevent the Padres from leaving in the future — and would have kept the Chargers in San Diego. Some say the government has no place in dictating where private businesses operate.

Sanders, I-Vermont, and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, recently introduced the Home Team Act, which would require team ownership to provide one year of notice before moving a team to a new location if the team would move across state lines or to a new metropolitan area.

During that year prior to the proposed relocation, the franchise in question would be available for other prospective owners to purchase “at a fair and reasonable price.”

San Diego is especially sensitive about teams leaving after the Chargers went to Los Angeles in 2017. Recently, the Padres have entertained several offers to sell, igniting fears someone may take the baseball club somewhere else.

The legislation has faced criticism as government control over business likely faces pushback from sports leagues and potential constitutional arguments over property rights.

Here’s more from Axios:

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) have introduced federal legislation that would require owners of professional sports teams to give their community a chance to buy the team before relocating.

Why it matters: Questions about the Spurs potentially relocating if voters didn’t approve public funding for a new arena roiled San Antonio last fall. The team never publicly threatened to move, but officials and voters suggested they would. Voters ultimately passed the arena funding.

Between the lines: Major league sports teams often use the threat of relocation — real or perceived — to pressure local governments and voters to put tax dollars toward new arenas and stadiums.

Economists generally say the public pays and owners profit.

Casar still represents downtown San Antonio, until new U.S. House districts take effect next year.
How it works: The bill would make owners provide notice one year before moving the team to another metro area or across state lines.

That’s meant to give locals a chance to come together with an offer for the team. That could be a government entity, a nonprofit or public partnership, a company, or just a person or group. There would be a penalty for owners who don’t comply.

Teams wouldn’t be prevented from moving if a local buyer couldn’t “meet a fair and reasonable price, as assessed by a team of appraisers,” per a news release announcing the bill.

Reality check: A bill pushed by progressives is unlikely to make it far in the Republican-controlled U.S. House.

What they’re saying: “Far too many Americans know the pain of losing a team, and far too many communities have had to fork over billions in subsidies just to keep an already profitable team home,” Casar said in a statement.

“The Home Team Act would make sure that the Spurs stay in my home district, in San Antonio,” he said at a news conference announcing the legislation.