Shortly after the news broke Friday afternoon that Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder had agreed to sell the franchise to Josh Harris, one of Harris’ partners, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson sent out the following tweet.
I could not be more excited to be a partner in the proposed new ownership group for the Washington Commanders. Josh Harris has assembled an amazing group who share a commitment to not only doing great things on the field but to making a real impact in the DMV community. I’m so…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 12, 2023
As it turns out, before Harris’ deal with Snyder was finalized, Magic was already at work, per A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports. Perez has been front and center throughout Washington’s sale process and reported late Sunday night that while it was unclear what the two discussed, Johnson met with Maryland Governor Wes Moore met only days before Harris reached an agreement with Snyder.
This comes as Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland are all ready to potentially make their individual cases to build the next Commanders’ stadium.
Shortly after the Commanders released a statement Friday from Dan and Tanya Snyder confirming they had agreed to sell the franchise to Harris and his group, Moore’s press secretary, Carter Elliott, responded with the following tweet.
The @Commanders have called Prince George's County home for 25 years, and @GovWesMoore is committed to continuing this long-standing partnership.
The Moore-Miller Administration congratulates the new owners and upon approval by the National Football League, looks forward to… https://t.co/SOnuhtIxSv
— Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) May 12, 2023
We know Washington, D.C. wants the franchise back in the District, but that’s complicated. Maryland wants the team to remain, but FedEx Field is an issue. The Commanders’ lease expires in 2027 but could be renewed.
Before things went south for Snyder last year, Virginia was ready to do help build a stadium in The Commonwealth.
Snyder had no options remaining, which was a big issue with fellow NFL owners. With a new ownership group that has deep local ties, everything is back on the table.
And for Josh Harris, it’s good to have Magic Johnson on your side.
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