Fairness in Antitrust in National Sports (FANS) Act of 2001

The Fairness in Antitrust in National Sports (FANS) Act of 2001 was designed to remove Major League Baseball’s unique exemption from federal antitrust laws specifically regarding the relocation or elimination of teams. By treating baseball like other professional sports leagues, the bill would have allowed local governments, stadium authorities, and players to use the legal system to challenge a team's decision to move to a different city or shut down a franchise entirely. For everyday citizens and fans, this legislation aimed to provide local communities with more legal leverage to protect their home teams and the public investments made in local stadiums.