Commanders Land Largest Annual Sponsorship Deal in Franchise History

The Washington Commanders inked a reportedly record-setting deal with ticket seller SeatGeek. Now they just need some fans willing to buy tickets.

SeatGeek will take over from Ticketmaster as the team’s ticketing company in 2023. The pact is for four years with an option for the team to extend it and breaks the Commanders’ record for annual revenue from a partnership, per Forbes.

• The deal eclipses the Commanders’ 27-year, $205 million stadium naming rights deal with FedEx in annual guaranteed money.
• It will likely bring the Commanders an average of $10 million to $12 million each year.

SeatGeek will manage the team’s ticket sales across all platforms, season tickets, memberships, and fan data.

Ryan Moreland, the team’s chief partnership officer, touted the deal, saying it would bring users “a mobile-first and fan-centric experience,” that will be “more immersive and efficient.”

Fan Mobilization

With a new ticketing company coming in, the team will look to bring in larger crowds. 

Last season, the Commanders had the league’s lowest attendance as a percentage of capacity at 64.3%. The Detroit Lions were second-lowest at 79.9%. Tickets for the team’s preseason opener on Saturday were reportedly selling for as low as $1 on secondary market platform GameTime.

The Commanders are looking to relocate in the coming years, with Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., all competing for the team.