Lurking as the potential top bidder for the Commanders, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is no longer expected to pursue this purchase. Bezos has no plans to submit a bid for the NFC East franchise, Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post report.
Dan Snyder‘s animosity toward Bezos notwithstanding, the bid the latter could have come in with would have certainly put him in strong position to buy the team. Many around the NFL expected a bid. Instead, this could pave the way for one of the ownership groups that have already entered the fray. Puck News’ Theodore Schleifer was first to report Bezos, 59, will not move forward in this process.
Groups headlined by Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have submitted bids. Harris, whose ownership group includes Magic Johnson, is viewed as the leader here, according to Schleifer. Harris’ bid checked in at approximately $6 billion, per the Washington Post. That does not hit Snyder’s $7 billion target, though SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the goal now may be closer to $6.5 billion.
It is not known if an agreement between Snyder and Harris is imminent, per Maske and Jhabvala, but Breer adds Harris is unlikely to raise his bid. Harris has already been vetted — due to his pursuit of the Broncos last year — and is believed to be well-regarded in ownership circles, per Breer. The NFL has shown little desire to hold a vote to remove Snyder as Commanders owner, despite steady rumblings of ownership’s dissatisfaction with Snyder’s behavior and the brigade of scandals engulfing him. But it would seem Harris, who also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, would not have trouble being voted in by NFL owners. Twenty-four votes are required for an ownership transfer to commence.
A $6 billion sale would still shatter the record — set last year when Rob Walton bought the Broncos — for an American sports franchise, but Snyder has not fully committed to selling the team yet. A sale is expected, but it is not a lock. Removing a monster Bezos bid from the equation could provide a speedbump. Most around the league believe Snyder will sell, but Breer adds some nervousness exists the defiant leader will back out at the last minute. That could force owners’ hands, as Snyder remains ensnared in multiple investigations — including a second league-launched probe, which Mary Jo White has been leading for over a year — since the House Oversight Committee released its report.
No. 3 on the most recent Forbes list, Bezos has also been connected to a future Seahawks purchase. Not submitting a Commanders bid keeps that door open, though with the Seahawks not being for sale, Bezos not intending to submit a Commanders bid will keep him out of the NFL for the foreseeable future. Bezos has used a New York firm to evaluate a Commanders purchase, Maske and Jhabvala add. Snyder had previously blocked a Bezos path to Commanders ownership; his ownership of the Washington Post has rankled Snyder. As of March, however, Snyder was no longer believed to be dead-set against selling to Bezos. That appears a moot point now, and Harris negotiations may be on tap soon.
Snyder’s style would be to insist on $6.5 billion. When he doesn’t get it, he doesn’t sell. But it turns down the pressure on him to sell. “The team is for sale,” he’ll answer the Commissioner and the owners. “No one has met my price yet.”
The other owners won’t be fans of forcing an owner to sell his franchise for less than what it’s worth. Maybe someone somewhere will be instructed to find the money to make up the difference and get the sale done.
Guys like Bezos operate in a financial universe much different than the average person. A half billion dollars isn’t a major stumbling block to getting deals done in their world.
Bezos is apparently holding out for Seattle (Seahawks). The Redskins (no longer the Redskins) are a troubled franchise, having lost their name, their logo and a good portion of their history – in short, their brand. Not a great investment, in a difficult BLM city. Seattle has its own problems but does have a great fanbase and a more exciting recent history under Caroll.
Can’t blame Bezos for keeping his powder dry here.
Pre-name change and pre-woke, the Redskins were worth that kind of money. Especially to someone who dislikes Texans, with the annual rivalry which is now next to worthless.
“Today on Thanksgiving Day, the Commanders face the Cowboys for the third time” doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Today on Thanksgiving, the Redskins visit the Cowboys for the twentieth time”.
FYI – they used to be called the Boston Braves. Evidently it was difficult in ye olde days if you had a Football and a Baseball team in the same city to give them different names.
Alas, it will always be the Chicago Staleys for me.
Hey Alec. Your comment sue aged poorly. Looks like Washington is going to set the record for a NFL franchise. I guess BLM neighborhood didn’t matter. Clown
Ironically the first domino in the crazy major sport franchise sales numbers started with the sale of the LA Clippers with an at the time arguable overpay to get rid of Donald Sterling.
My comment aged just fine. Notice that Snyder is getting his price and even his guarantees and indemnities.
Had Snyder’s price not been met, the sale would not have gone through.
The name changed, same franchise, same history. Whether Commanders was a good choice of name or not is a different conversation.
Sorry – but that team in Washington isn’t worth anything close to $6 billion, as it would only have been worth that kind of money if was still called the Redskins and had 90 years of history and player worship associated with it. The new team is simply a 3 year old expansion team with a bad name and bad stadium thanks to Snyder and the wokies.
If Snyder had any sense he would be pitching this team to some Russian Oligarchs or a Saudi prince of some sort – as they are the only ones with the big cash, political connections, and non-allegiance to the former team needed to quicly move on from the Snyder disaster.
Strange comment. You do realize corporations change their names and rebrand frequently without any drop in financial valuation. Would Tesla or Apple suddenly become bad investments if they opted for a name change?
Any attempt by Saudi Arabia to buy into US sports will raise hackles in both red and blue states. Look at how the Saudis engage in sportswashing — Formula One, LIV Golf, Newcastle United.
As well, don’t expect any Russian oligarchs to purchase the Redskins cos USA was one of the first to sanction the Russians following the invasion of Ukraine.
High is right.
“If Snyder had any sense he would be pitching this team to some Russian Oligarchs or a Saudi prince of some sort –”
lmao, maybe one of the most delusional comments I’ve ever seen here. There’s a 0% chance a “Russian Oligarch” or “Saudi prince” would get approved as a buyer. This is fantasy.
And cry harder about the name, buddy. They’re the same team. Please join us in reality after you get your diaper changed.
So funny that everyone has been trained to hate the wrong people – as Jeff Bezos is ten times the threat to you and your children as the other types of people I mentioned.
It’s a bad investment.
Redskins
Fugawi
Isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest if Bezos were to own an NFL team and a media outlet that has purchased broadcast rights to Thursday Night Football?
Let’s say Bezos the Commanders owner, doesn’t want to make his team play on short schedules, thereby keeping them off of TNF. Or one day flexing them off of the schedule when that eventually gets approved.
You’re forgetful of the period when the Murdoch media empire owned the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fair, but TNF is unique by comparison to the repeating night games of MLB.
Somehow I neglected to reference the Saudis’ most obvious sportswashing … their friendship with Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation.