Connecticut U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal have joined a group of Democratic lawmakers to introduce the “Home Team Act,” legislation in Congress aimed at giving local communities the right of first refusal to purchase professional sports teams before owners relocate them.
The proposal comes in response to the planned relocation of the Connecticut Sun, which has been based in Montville at the Mohegan Sun Arena for nearly two decades but was recently sold to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta for a record $300 million.
The Sun will move to Houston in 2027, and will be renamed the Houston Comets, reestablishing the city’s WNBA franchise nearly two decades after it disbanded in 2008.
Murphy cited the Sun sale as an example of what he described as owners prioritizing profits over communities. He and Blumenthal are joined in sponsoring the bicameral legislation by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas).
The bill would require professional sports team owners to provide at least one-year’s notice before relocating a franchise. The bill defines relocation as moving across state lines or to a different metropolitan statistical area.
During that one-year window, the bill would require owners to give local buyers the chance to purchase the team at a “fair and reasonable” market price, which would be determined by independent appraisers.
The legislation allows for a wide range of potential buyers, including local governments, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, or private individuals or groups. It explicitly envisions community ownership models similar to that of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers as a viable option, though it does not require that structure.
The bill does not prohibit relocation outright. If no local buyer is willing or able to meet the appraised price, the owner would still be permitted to move the team after the notice period.
To enforce compliance, the Home Team Act would establish penalties for owners who fail to follow the process and would give state and local governments the legal right to challenge violations in court.
