Faegre Drinker Successfully Advocates for Amendments to Illinois Sports Facilities Act to Secure Funding for Women’s Professional Sports

A Faegre Drinker team led by senior director Olivia Pantoja represented the Chicago Stars, FC, before the Illinois General Assembly and City of Chicago and successfully ensured professional women’s sports were included in discussions regarding public funding for stadiums alongside men’s teams. 

The Illinois Sports Facilities Act, first enacted in 1987, established the Illinois Sports Facility Authority, which oversees construction and maintenance of major sports stadiums in the estate. Pantoja, alongside government and regulatory partners Scott Chinn and Cynthia Irani, successfully advocated for amendments to the Act to include professional women’s sports. The legislation was ultimately passed and signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in Public Act 104-0246. 

To learn more about the amendments to the Illinois Sports Facilities Act, click here.