The Washington Commanders aren’t officially for sale, but the team already has a bidder.
Entertainment Studios founder Byron Allen is reportedly preparing an offer for the embattled NFL team. Commanders owner Dan Snyder, who is facing multiple investigations, has hired Bank of America to explore a potential sale.
- Allen attempted to buy the Denver Broncos after being approached by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
- The Broncos were eventually purchased for a U.S. record $4.7 billion by Rob Walton, son of late Walmart founder Sam Walton, who is worth an estimated $59.4 billion, per Forbes.
- A sale would make Allen the first Black NFL team owner.
While Allen was bested by the 17th-richest person in the world for the Broncos, he may be up against the fourth-richest for the Commanders. Jeff Bezos, net worth $114.4 billion, explored buying a stake in the team last year and is thought to still be interested.
In addition to the cost of purchasing the team, which could reach $6 billion, a new owner may also have to fund a new stadium. In all, the total expense could reach $10 billion.
Washington Investigating Washington
The team is being investigated by the Department of Justice for financial impropriety, sources confirmed to Front Office Sports.
A House of Representatives committee was already exploring various financial allegations, including that the team used two accounting books to provide different pictures of its financial health.