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Josh Harris will be the next owner of the Washington Commanders. We know that much, as he and Daniel Snyder finalized a deal on May 12 for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner to take over. For now, it’s only a matter of when.
Washington fans are excited. The once-proud franchise will finally be rid of Snyder. This isn’t another time to comment on all of Snyder’s transgressions over the years and how he singlehandedly destroyed a fan base, but instead an opportunity to say Washington fans have found the right guy in Harris.
OK, sure, you’ve heard that before. Harris grew up in the DMV and loved the team as a kid — like Snyder — but that’s where the comparisons should end.
We’ve detailed some of Harris’ accomplishments in the business world, and they are impressive. Harris has carried that success into professional sports with the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Devils. Now, it’s time for the Chevy Chase, Md. native to bring that success to his hometown team.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated ran a profile piece on Harris this week, and it’s outstanding. Breer spoke with those who know Harris, including Jonathan Kraft, president of the New England Patriots, who attended Harvard Business School with Harris.
Others, such as Fanatics CEO — and former Sixers & Devils minority owner — Michael Rubin, Greg Reaves, founder of Mosaic Development Partners, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, all spoke to Breer.
Each spoke of Harris’ business acumen, his philanthropic efforts, and how he was focused on helping others, including the community.
The following quote from Bettman stood out as it pertains to the Commanders:
“He is amazing at identifying great properties that are underperforming,” Bettman said. “He takes a property that’s fundamentally good, but isn’t firing on all cylinders—look at the 76ers, and how much better they’ve done; look at the Devils and how much better they’ve done—and improves it. So if I’m a fan of the Commanders, I’m pretty excited.”
Are you still skeptical?
Here’s the following from Silver:
It was just that, as a native of Chevy Chase, Md., Harris’s connection to Washington’s NFL franchise carried far heavier weight than anything that pushed him to buy the Devils or the Sixers. So he confided in Silver months ago: This isn’t just about acquiring an NFL team, this is my hometown team, and this is very unique to me, a very unique opportunity to give back to my community, and be part of a team I rooted for when I was growing up.
Harris knows success. He knows personal success, business success, and success in professional sports. And he also grew up in a time when the then-Redskins were the biggest show in town and one of the NFL’s flagship franchises.
Harris knows what the NFL team means to the local community.
We’ll leave you with one last quote from Silver on Harris:
Ownership of that team is as personal to him as it is to any hardcore fan. I want to assure [Commanders fans], this is not a professional investor coming in to create a portfolio of sports assets. And this team is very unique to him, in terms of the intensity of his fandom.
Harris should be Washington’s new owner for Week 1 when the Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how FedEx Field responds on a monumental day for the franchise.
