How Rupert Murdoch Changed Sports Media Forever
Who’s on deck?
With final approval of the Washington Commanders’ $6.05 billion sale to Josh Harris’ group expected to come soon and the Ottawa Senators narrowing down bids close to $1 billion for the NHL franchise, even more, pro teams will likely be changing hands in the near future.
In the NBA, Micheal Jordan has been exploring a sale of his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to one of his minority investors since March.
Jordan reportedly would have rethought his intentions had the Hornets won the NBA Draft lottery. Charlotte landed the second pick, narrowly missing out on the chance to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
In MLB, the Washington Nationals were once up for sale, but the Lerner family has since taken the team off the market while dealing with issues around its MASN regional sports network. Ted Leonsis, who owns local counterparts the Capitals and Wizards, reportedly bid over $2 billion for the Nationals.
Internationally, Manchester United’s sale process drags on as the Glazer family may or may not follow through with a sale of the team, which will likely go for more than $6 billion.
Another NFL team to keep an eye on is the Seattle Seahawks. The future of the team has been up in the air since late owner Paul Allen’s death in 2018. Allen’s sister Jody is likely to sell the team in 2024. The Seahawks have recently been valued by Forbes at $4.5 billion.
Three NWSL teams are also on the market — the OL Reign, Chicago Red Stars, and Portland Timbers. A deal for the Red Stars could come sometime this spring.
