The bill would eliminate league rules against public ownership of teams, giving fans an opportunity to buy a team that plans to move, and tie the leagues' broadcast antitrust exemption to the conditions in the bill. All communities should have the opportunity to own their sports teams if they want to. Public ownership would make a team more accountable to the city, explained Smith, because if they threatened to move they would be threatening part of their ownership.
Communities make economic and emotional investment in their sports teams.
I remember how crazy this city was during the Mariners playoffs and the Seattle-Chicago NBA finals.