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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58767</law_id><section_number>15.2-5944</section_number><catch_line>Restrictions related to sports teams</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Other Governmental Entities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="59.3">Hampton Roads Regional Arena Authority</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> plans to use a <span class="dictionary">Facility</span> for the sole purpose of conducting <span class="dictionary">athletic events</span> involving a <span class="dictionary">sports team</span>, <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> shall not enter into any contractual agreement with such <span class="dictionary">sports team</span> unless such contractual agreement requires that the <span class="dictionary">sports team</span> (i) not relocate until any <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> issued under this chapter are repaid or defeased and (ii) operate the <span class="dictionary">Facility</span> until any <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> issued under this chapter are repaid or defeased. <a id="paragraph-215346" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-5944/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> plans to use a <span class="dictionary">Facility</span> for the sole purpose of conducting <span class="dictionary">athletic events</span> involving a <span class="dictionary">sports team</span>, <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> shall not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> under this chapter until it executes a long-term lease with (i) the owner of the <span class="dictionary">sports team</span> or (ii) a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> that has entered into a long-term sublease with the owner of the <span class="dictionary">sports team</span>. <a id="paragraph-215347" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-5944/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> plans to use a <span class="dictionary">Facility</span> for the sole purpose of conducting <span class="dictionary">athletic events</span> involving a <span class="dictionary">sports team</span>, <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> shall not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">bonds</span> under this chapter until the league of which the <span class="dictionary">sports team</span> is a member publicly approves a proposal for the <span class="dictionary">sports team</span> to be located in a <span class="dictionary">Hampton Roads locality</span>. <a id="paragraph-215348" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-5944/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if <span class="dictionary">the Authority</span> plans to use a <span class="dictionary">Facility</span> also for the purpose of holding entertainment events and conferences. <a id="paragraph-215349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/15.2-5944/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 538, 539.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
