Josh Harris will have the keys to the Washington Commanders by the start of training camp after his group agreed to purchase the franchise for a worldwide record last month. 

The NFL finance committee was confident enough in its review of the $6.05 billion deal to schedule a July 20 special meeting where owners will meet to vote on the transaction, a source confirmed to Front Office Sports. 

There’s close to zero chance that Harris won’t reach the 24-vote threshold for approval. By the time the Commanders begin training camp on July 27, Dan Snyder’s turbulent 24-year reign will be officially over, as the transaction becomes final in the days after the vote — barring any unforeseen setbacks. 

Harris and Blitzer will have a few months to sell their 5% stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers after the vote. Dave Tepper’s purchase of the Carolina Panthers was approved in 2018 before he sold his slice of the Steelers. 

No Immediate Changes Planned

When Harris and business partner David Blitzer took over the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011 and the New Jersey Devils in 2013, there weren’t major immediate changes to the front office or coaching staff. 

The same approach is expected with the Commanders, making major changes unlikely until after the 2023 season.

“There’s going to be a really thoughtful analysis before implementing strategies — both on and off the field — that can help build a sustainable long-term winner,” a source close to the incoming ownership group told FOS. 

Deion Sanders is recovering from successful emergency surgery to remove blood clots from his legs — just over two months ahead of his debut as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

The health of Sanders will continue to be monitored as he said there is still a clot in his right leg that will need to be removed soon.

Before Friday’s surgery, Sanders took to Instagram to explain the situation, noting he was confident in the decision and believed it would help him avoid having either leg amputated. He did have his left big toe and second toe amputated in 2021 due to similar issues.

The outspoken Pro Football Hall of Famer has thrust Colorado into the national spotlight after taking over a program that finished 1-11 in 2022. The school was the only one in the country to air its spring game on ESPN — a broadcast that drew 551,000 viewers.

Any lingering health issues could be a huge blow to the hype surrounding the Buffaloes — ticket prices for Colorado’s home opener against Nebraska were soaring after the school sold out its season-ticket inventory.

The Coach Prime boost Colorado is receiving is no doubt making it more attractive to the Big 12 as that conference considers possible expansion. If Sanders isn’t able to coach long-term, Colorado could be a less appealing option.

The Pac-12 football media day is scheduled for July 21 in Las Vegas, where Colorado’s future and Sanders’ impact will no doubt be major topics.

Chelsea FC owner Todd Boehly has taken the next step in his attempt to build a multiclub portfolio in soccer by acquiring a majority stake in France’s Racing Club de Strasbourg.

Boehly — the American businessman who is also part of the ownership groups of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Sparks, as well as ticketing company Vivid Seats — acquired the stake through his BlueCo consortium in a deal pegged at about $82 million. 

Strasbourg competes in Ligue 1, finishing most recently in 15th.

The effort is a start toward replicating the global portfolio held by City Football Group — parent of 13 clubs including English treble winners Manchester City and Major League Soccer’s NYCFC — as BlueCo looks for additional tools to aid Chelsea’s development.

“This strategic investment would further our presence in European football,” said a statement from BlueCo, which is now said to be scouting other potential club acquisitions on both that continent and South America.

But Boehly’s entry has been anything but well-received. Chelsea’s 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season sparked widespread fan outcry and a rare freeze on ticket prices. In July, the turbulent Boehly era will also see the arrival of the club’s fifth manager in less than 10 months.

The negative press has traveled, too: Strasbourg fans have taken to local streets holding “Boehly Not Welcome” banners.

As it does every summer, the NBA landscape is shifting. New stars are finding new homes, and teams are searching for fresh strategies to stay in championship contention — or get one step closer to it.

The move with the biggest business implications: Chris Paul landed with the Golden State Warriors in a trade sending guard Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards.

While adding Paul, 38, will certainly be an interesting fit for the Dubs on the court, the first big trade under new general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. looks like a cap-savvy move to maximize the team’s future spending. 

Although the Warriors are currently projected to pay $48.5 million in luxury tax next season, per Spotrac, moving Jordan Poole’s remaining $128 million over the next four years helps Golden State avoid larger tax penalties down the line and sets them up with prime financial flexibility ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Two other trades will likely keep other championship contenders in the luxury tax, too. 

After acquiring guard Bradley Beal from the Wizards, the Phoenix Suns are forecasted to pay about $16 million in tax next year. The Boston Celtics are estimated to owe $13 million after bringing on forward Kristaps Porzingis from Washington.

Meanwhile, the Wizards — at the center of all these deals — appear to be in rebuild mode under Michael Winger, who became president of Monumental Basketball this offseason.

This comes as the Qatar Investment Authority is injecting potentially $200 million of cash into Wizards owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment.