Can a new bill stop the ‘straight greed’ behind NFL teams leaving their hometowns?

April 6, 2026 Oliver Obel

A new proposal in Congress could reshape how professional sports teams relocate, as debate intensifies over whether the Chicago Bears might leave Illinois altogether.

The situation, highlighted in recent reporting by The Guardian, has drawn strong reactions from fans and political leaders while raising broader questions about the power of team owners.

A franchise at a crossroads

The Bears are exploring stadium options after efforts to build a new venue in Arlington Heights stalled over property tax disputes. While that plan remains uncertain, Indiana officials have emerged with an alternative.

State lawmakers approved legislation in February to support a potential move to Hammond, just across the Illinois border, according to The Guardian.

The possibility has sparked backlash. WWE performer CM Punk called it “straight greed,” while Illinois governor JB Pritzker described it as a “slap in the face.” Some fans say they would struggle to support the team if it leaves Chicago.

The Bears currently play at Soldier Field, a historic lakefront stadium that has the smallest seating capacity in the NFL.

Congress steps in

Amid the uncertainty, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar have introduced the “Home Team Act,” aimed at slowing — and potentially preventing — franchise relocations.

“Sports in America should be about more than just making billionaire owners even richer,” Casar said.

The bill would require teams to give at least one year’s notice before relocating to another state or metropolitan area. During that time, local investors — including community ownership groups — could attempt to purchase the franchise at market value.

Supporters say the proposal is meant to counter situations in which cities feel pressured to offer public subsidies to retain teams.

Lessons from past moves

Sanders has cited the 1957 relocation of baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles as a formative experience.

“There was a joke in my Flatbush neighborhood that the three worst people in modern history were Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and [former Dodgers owner] Walter O’Malley, and not necessarily in that order,” he said on the Flagrant podcast earlier this year.

More recently, Oakland has lost multiple professional teams, including the Raiders and Warriors, with the Athletics planning to leave as well — moves that have affected local businesses and civic identity, as previously reported by The Guardian.

Can communities realistically compete?

The legislation would allow for community ownership models like the Green Bay Packers, which are owned by hundreds of thousands of shareholders.

However, replicating that structure would be difficult in many cases. The Bears are valued at roughly $8.9 billion, making a local purchase a significant challenge.

The bill also faces political and practical hurdles, including how to determine a fair sale price and when a relocation process officially begins.

Even so, supporters argue it could give cities and fans more leverage in decisions that have long been dominated by team owners.

Sources: The Guardian