Skip to main content
HR 532 106th Congress House Sports and Recreation Antitrust law Baseball Basketball Business losses Citizen participation Commerce Corporate finance Corporate management Football Government Operations and Politics Government ownership Government paperwork Hockey Infrastructure Local taxation Location of industries Professional sports Relocation Science, Technology, Communications

Give Fans a Chance Act of 1999

Introduced: February 3, 1999 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 3, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 3, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H382, H399-400)
Feb 3, 1999
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Give Fans a Chance Act of 1999 - Limits the antitrust exemption applicable to broadcasting agreements made by professional sports leagues. Makes such exemption inapplicable to a league for any period during which any member club is: (1) subject to such league's requirement, or to an agreement made by two or more member clubs, that forbids any of such clubs to transfer an ownership interest in such club to any governmental entity or to members of the general public; or (2) not in compliance with the following requirements.

Requires a member club or a league to furnish notice of a proposed relocation of a club out of a community in the club's home territory not later than 180 days before the commencement of the season in which the club is to play home games in the proposed new location, subject to specified requirements. Specifies that, during the 180-day notice period: (1) a local government, stadium, arena authority, person, or any combination thereof may prepare and present a proposal to purchase the club to retain the club in the home community (prohibits the league, if such bid is successful, from barring the club's membership in the league because it is owned by several persons or entities or by one or more local governments); and (2) the club and the league shall give a local government, stadium authority, person, or any combination thereof the opportunity to prepare and present a proposal to induce the club to remain in its home community (requires the response of the club owner to meet specified requirements).

Directs the league to make a determination, before the expiration of the 180-day notice period, with respect to the relocation. Sets forth provisions regarding hearings and consideration of proposals.

Sets forth criteria for relocation decisions, including the extent to which fan loyalty to and support for the club has been demonstrated during the club's operation in such community.

What's happening now February 3, 1999

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 532: Give Fans a Chance Act of 1999. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-532/
MLA
"H.R. 532: Give Fans a Chance Act of 1999." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-532/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 532, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-532/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 532: Give Fans a Chance Act of 1999](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-532/)
Report a problem