• Loading stock data...
Saturday, February 22, 2025
exclusive
Deals

Washington Commanders Status Check: Sale At Standstill

  • Amid more damaging headlines for owner Dan Snyder, there’s still no timetable on decision.
  • One factor remains whether Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will enter the process.
Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports

The sale of the Washington Commanders remained in a stalemate this week, a lull in activity that came amid more damaging headlines for owner Dan Snyder. 

Sources told Front Office Sports that there are multiple factors as to why the process that just a week ago seemed to be coming to a crescendo has stalled. One source laid out the biggest: Jeff Bezos.

The will-he-or-won’t-he intrigue over when — or even if — the Amazon founder will make a move had led to some paralysis among the others interested in acquiring the Commanders, which have been on the market since November.

One barrier to Bezos — Snyder’s reluctance to sell to him — would be removed if the owners make a clear signal that they’re serious about removal, another source said. It will take 24 owners to agree on removal, something that’s never happened in league history.

The NFL’s next league meeting is scheduled to begin March 26 in Phoenix.

The Commanders have declined comment on the potential sale of the team since it began. In response to this article, the Commanders issued their third response this week over a published report.

“Front Office Sports tonight posted a blatantly false report regarding the ongoing process involving a potential Commanders transaction,” a the statement read. “The Team will continue its efforts to protect the confidentiality and integrity of its process,” Upon the conclusion of the process, the position of the Commanders will be announced by the team. Transactions of this nature are highly confidential, and few people are involved in the inner workings. As such, anonymously sourced stories purporting to be factual should not be believed.”

FOS stands by its reporting.

The other factors for the slow sale process include:

  • The financials for the Commanders that have been reviewed by those interested in acquiring the team paint a fairly bleak picture. The Commanders — which were among the most profitable franchises in the NFL when Snyder purchased the team in 1999 — are at or near the bottom in multiple categories from ticket to merchandise revenue. 
  • The cost of a new stadium is expected to be at least $3 billion. The NFL’s G-4 loan program maxes out at $200 million and without certainty of public financing, so the next owner will have to foot a major chunk of construction.  
  • The NFL’s biggest revenue stream — media rights — are locked in for the next decade, the last coming with YouTubeTV’s deal to take over NFL Sunday Ticket. While they are worth well north of $100 billion, there’s no guarantee about what the TV landscape will look like beyond 2033.

Meanwhile, the recent reports about Snyder haven’t exactly led to confidence in the bidding process.

The Washington Post reported that Snyder was looking for the other owners to pick up the tab for any financial fallout from the multiple ongoing investigations and the two lawsuits filed by the D.C. Attorney General’s office last year. 

A federal investigation that has led to at least one subpoena includes allegations that Snyder obtained a $55 million loan without the knowledge or content of the team’s board of directors, according to ESPN

The Commanders have denied the allegations in both stories. 

The reports coupled with the lengthy sales process have reignited a push to remove Snyder that was paused when the potential sale process began. If Snyder opts to keep the team or if the sale process drags out much longer, sources told FOS that a removal process will certainly gain momentum.

While Bezos entering a bid remains unknown, sources said the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris remains the most likely non-Bezos candidate to acquire the team.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta entered a bid that The Washington Post reported was slightly more than $5.5 billion.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 31, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Tobi Lawal (1) and Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) battle for the opening tip during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

House v. NCAA Settlement Creates Potential Crisis for International Athletes

Revenue-sharing payments could violate international student visa laws.
Malika Andrews
exclusive

ESPN NBA Stars Malika Andrews and Brian Windhorst Are Looming Free Agents

ESPN has major decisions to make this offseason with NBC and Amazon looming.
Nov 2, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) stretches during a time-out against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at PPG Paints Arena

Behind the Mask: The Artists Creating Hockey’s Iconic Goalie Style

The art and business of outfitting pro netminders.
Nov 24, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; General view inside NRG Stadium during the national anthem before the game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.

Texans Join NFL’s Stadium Push: Weighing Renovation vs. New Build

The NFL team is weighing options regarding the 23-year-old NRG Stadium.

Featured Today

Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.

Inside the Push for the NHL’s Next Era of International Competition

Players have been clamoring, and the league is all in.
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; Medals are carried out on Louis Vuitton trays after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena
February 16, 2025

LVMH’s New Push: World’s Most Powerful Luxury Group Is Coming for Sports

LVMH is making long-term deals—and they’re not done.
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Eastern Conference guard Damian Lillard (0) of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a play during the second half of the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
February 15, 2025

The NBA’s Latest Attempt To Solve the All-Star Game Conundrum

A new mini-tournament on a lame-duck network may not solve the problem.
Jan 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena
February 11, 2025

‘Important’ 4 Nations Face-Off Can Be NHL’s All-Star Antidote

“The stars have been lobbying the league for an event like this.”

Tiger Woods Signs First PGA Tour Player to Wear Sun Day Red

Karl Vilips will wear Sun Day Red at his season debut at the Mexico Open.
Jul 30, 2022; Pasadena California, USA; Juventus forward forward Dusan Vlahovic (9) and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jose Paixao (20) battle for the ball in the first half during an international friendly at the Rose Bowl.
February 14, 2025

‘Make Juventus Great Again’: Crypto Firm Tether Buys Stake in Soccer Club

Tether is just one of many crypto firms making sports investments.
Teammates embrace during matchup in The Hundred cricket league
February 15, 2025

Google, Microsoft, Adobe CEOs Buy Stakes in Cricket League

The England and Wales Cricket Board raised £520m by selling team stakes.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
exclusive
December 5, 2024

Talor Gooch Using LIV Golf Fortune to Start Building Sports Empire

The golfer has made more than $43 million individually from LIV.
December 4, 2024

U.S. Firm Makes $310M Bet on Soccer by Forming Superagency

The U.S.-based investment company makes a significant play in international soccer.
November 13, 2024

Why Liberty Media Spun Off Assets, Shook Up Leadership

Longtime CEO Greg Maffei is stepping down at the end of the year.
Oct 27, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at Lumen Field.
October 30, 2024

Buffalo Bills in Talks to Sell Stake to PE Firm Arctos: Report

Arctos already has a slice of Paris Saint-Germain and the PGA Tour, among other assets.