Could we FINALLY be getting to a place where Dan Snyder will sell the Washington Commanders after how awful the current owner has been in his tenure at the top?
The rumblings are pretty loud. But you just never know what it all means — perhaps Snyder will change his mind, dig in his heels and hang on to the team he’s owned since 1999.
For now, it’s a good time to take a look at the names being thrown around and reported about when it comes to who could buy the team. So let’s run through some of the reports as they continue to come in:
1
Tilman Fertitta
The Washington Post reports the Houston Rockets owner is “involved” in the bidding:
According to one person with knowledge of the deliberations, Fertitta submitted a bid for the Commanders but is not believed to be a front-runner to purchase the franchise from Daniel Snyder. That person described the sale proceedings as being “at a little bit of a standstill” and estimated Fertitta’s bid was for slightly above $5.5 billion.
Another person familiar with the matter said Fertitta is interested in the Commanders and is believed to have visited the team’s training facility in Ashburn.
Representatives for Fertitta did not respond to requests for comment Saturday night.
2
Josh Harris
He’s the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils, and he’s a Maryland native. Per the Washington Post:
Harris has been regarded as a contender to purchase the Commanders virtually from the moment Snyder and his wife, Tanya, the team’s co-CEO, announced in November they hired Bank of America to consider potential transactions for the franchise. The team has not said whether Daniel Snyder will sell all or part of the franchise, which is valued at $5.6 billion by Forbes.
3
Jeff Bezos
This one’s a little complicated. The New York Post reported this over the weekend:
Top bids to buy the Washington Commanders fell far short of owner Dan Snyder’s $6 billion cutoff — while billionaire Jeff Bezos has been forced to the sidelines, sources told The Post.
But there are other reports that Snyder is blocking Bezos to begin with and others that the Amazon founder is NOT out. Hmm.
4
Byron Allen
WJLA.com has this to say:
Back in November, it was reported that Byron Allen, the founder, owner and CEO of Entertainment Studios, also known as the Allen Media Group, was working with an investor group to make a bid on the Commanders.
Last year, Allen submitted a bid to buy the Denver Broncos before ultimately losing out to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group. If Allen buys the Commanders, he would become the first Black NFL owner.
5
John Henry
The Boston Red Sox owner was reportedly interested late in 2022. From Commanders Wire:
In November, we indicated that John Henry of Fenway Sports Group was interested in buying the Commanders. Henry owns the Boston Red Sox. Since then, we haven’t heard more regarding Henry’s possible interest.
However, on Sunday, a Twitter user posted some interesting information regarding a recent flight to Dulles Airport on Jan. 28 from a Fenway Sports Group jet.
could be nothing but John Henry of Fenway Sports Group private jet was at Dulles on 1/28 @JPFinlayNBCS @BenStandig @john_keim @HogsHaven @DanSnydersYacht pic.twitter.com/YuOVd5IFV6
— frosty (@frostybng1) February 20, 2023
