Arr, mateys! NFL owners be givin' their blessing to sellin' the Commanders to the Harris group, unanimous-like!
2023-07-20
Arrr! Tis with great accord that the NFL owners have granted passage for the Washington Commanders to be sold to a crew assembled by Captain Josh Harris. This announcement came forth from a gathering held at Minneapolis on Thursday, to the delight of all who be present.
The NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris, officially ending Dan Snyder's more than two-decade run as team owner. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated Harris and his partners, praising their business acumen and strong ties to Washington. The deal, which had been agreed upon in May, saw Harris purchase the team for a record-breaking $6.05 billion, the highest price ever paid for a North American professional sports team.Snyder and his wife expressed their pleasure in reaching an agreement with Harris, emphasizing their excitement for the prompt completion of the transaction. Harris himself spoke of his commitment to delivering a championship-caliber franchise for the city and its fans. The sale to Harris' group, which includes Magic Johnson, David Blitzer, and Mitchell Rales, was largely welcomed after accusations of a toxic work environment within the team.
Snyder initially bought the Commanders in 1999 for $750 million, but calls for him to sell the team grew following investigations into workplace misconduct and potential financial improprieties. The league fined the organization $10 million and directed Snyder to step away from day-to-day operations. Lawmakers also found evidence that Snyder fostered a toxic work environment and hindered the NFL's independent probe. In 2021, the Snyders bought out the previous minority owners and hired Bank of America Securities to explore a possible sale.
The deal with the Harris group surpassed the previous record set by Robert Walton, who bought the Denver Broncos for $4.55 billion. This sale marks the end of Snyder's ownership and the beginning of a new era for the Washington Commanders under Josh Harris and his partners.