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Not long before Josh Harris took the stage for his introductory news conference at FedEx Field on Friday, his purchase of the Washington Commanders officially closed.
Harris’ $6.05 billion acquisition was unanimously approved by NFL owners on Thursday, a vote that sent the D.C. area into celebration after 24 years under Dan Snyder, an era that saw one of the league’s marquee franchises slide into mediocrity and tumult.
“This is not going to be easy,” Harris said. “My job is to deliver an organization that can win. It’s on me and it’s on us up here. Our work begins today.”
Harris put together what could be the most complex bid in NFL history to purchase his childhood team at a world-record price for a sports team.
“I invest to win, and we want to change everything that has happened to this franchise,” said Magic Johnson, who joined some of his fellow co-owners on stage.
Earlier in the day, Johnson told NBC that “everything’s on the table” when asked about changing the team name, one of the many divisive decisions Snyder foisted on fans. Harris said a name change isn’t among the top priorities “right now.”
Harris also didn’t give any hints on his plans for a new stadium, something on which Snyder was unable to make headway as he and his now-former team became the target of multiple investigations.
One of those ongoing probes closed Thursday, when the NFL announced that it’s slapping a $60 million fine on Snyder as the latest league investigation corroborated allegations of sexual harassment and holding back revenue.
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