Sports teams have a massive amount of influence on the respective areas that they call home. So, when they move, whatever status and supplementary revenue they generate will automatically go towards the next city they decide is their home. It is because of that influence and power that many cities wish to bid for these teams before they finalize where they will switch locations.
While critics from sports team leadership have been hesitant to support things like this, more and more lawmakers are coming forward to introduce bills that would make bidding a requirement. This comes after multiple instances of sports teams using relocations as a threat to force local governments and voters to approve tax dollars towards new stadiums.
If city bidding for sports teams became required by law, that would elevate the public to a more equal level with private sports teams. For decades, sports teams benefited from taxpayer money without the public seeing a decent return.
Sports teams give a respective city status, allowing for more outside visitors to come and are likely to spend money in local businesses and hotels. Additionally, new stadiums often lead to local governments overlooking necessary projects that local communities might need, or even lead to the degradation of important minority enclaves similar to the Chinatowns in Philadelphia.
Ultimately, sports teams need the reminder that its largely taxpayer money that supports them, and while money can get them far, if public opinion falls, that could lead to more hurt. The public and private should be working together to support communities and not hold them hostage.
