Tag: Team Sale

Twitter reacts to reports that Dan Snyder may not sell Commanders

There were plenty of reactions to Snyder possibly attempting to keep the team and not sell. None were good.

News of Daniel Snyder blocking Jeff Bezos from making an official bid on the Commanders’ sale did not sit well with Commanders fans and NFL fans.

Here are some of the reactions, as observed on Twitter, that Snyder really has lost so much of the fan base and support across the NFL.

 

Who is Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta?

We learn more about Tilman Fertitta, who recently placed a bid on the Washington Commanders.

There is a new name in the mix to buy the Washington Commanders. The Washington Post reported Saturday that Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta placed a bid on the Commanders and recently toured the team’s facilities.

Fertitta purchased the Houston Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 billion. The Post reported Fertitta’s bid for Washington was “slightly above $5.5 billion,” and he was not considered the frontrunner at this time.

Who is Tilman Fertitta?

Here’s some background information on Fertitta.

Commanders’ sale playing out ‘how many feared’ it would

These next four weeks are going to be very interesting.

Fans of the Washington Commanders are skeptical by nature. For the fans who’ve stuck around over the past 24 years of Daniel Snyder’s tenure as owner, nothing surprises them.

So, back in November, when it was revealed that owner Dan Snyder had hired Bank of America to explore potential transactions with the team, many Washington fans were skeptical. While it was apparent that other NFL owners wanted Snyder gone, confirmed by Colts owner Jim Irsay in October, no one believed he’d sell the Commanders.

Now, almost four months later, stories have gone back and forth regarding who has actually placed bids on the Commanders, how much those were for and how much Snyder was seeking; it feels closer than ever to actual real news regarding the sale.

Multiple reports have cited the NFL owner’s meetings, which begin on March 26, as the time Washington’s sale would be finalized. Outlets such as NBC Sports Washington, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Front Office Sports and FOX Business have all mentioned a similar timeline.

However, the New York Post has said bids didn’t even reach $6 billion, and things weren’t going well. On Saturday, the New York Post reported that Snyder had kept Amazon founder Jeff Bezos out of the bidding process.

Snyder’s beef with Bezos exists because Bezos owns The Washington Post. Snyder blames the Washington Post for many of his troubles. In actuality, the Washington Post, behind excellent reporting, exposed the toxic workplace that existed under Snyder’s watch for two decades.

Shortly after the New York Post’s report Saturday, Ben Standig of The Athletic confirmed that Bezos is barred from bidding on the Commanders. But, in Standig’s report, he said the potential sale had been “ramped up.”

What does that mean? Does it mean Snyder could sell to Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris for less than the $6 billion he reportedly wants?

It’s Dan Snyder, so that remains a mystery.

Here’s another quote from Standig’s story that Washington fans know all too well:

“This is playing out exactly how many feared,” said one sports lawyer of the scenario that Snyder would create an unrealistic price threshold, keep out the wealthiest bidder, and not sell the team.

Could Snyder say his price tag wasn’t met after freezing out the highest potential bidder and keep the Commanders?

Well, he could, but it’s not that simple.

Snyder likely knows it’s in his best interest to sell the franchise. And ultimately, everything comes down to money. As Standig noted, it’s been known that Snyder didn’t want to deal with Bezos. However, this week, the Washington Post reported that Bezos hired a noted investment bank to look into a potential bid on the Commanders.

Why would Bezos do this if he felt there was no chance?

While Snyder may be making a last-ditch effort to scare Washington fans, this entire ordeal likely ends with him selling the team. And regardless of what we heard Saturday, don’t be surprised if Bezos is the winning bidder.

As always, follow the money. And Bezos has way more than anyone else involved.

With the owner’s meetings one month away, the next four weeks will be very interesting.

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Dan Snyder wants $6 billion for the Commanders?

Is Snyder’s price going down?

On Thursday, it was revealed that Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos had hired an investment firm to look into a potential purchase of the Washington Commanders.

The investment firm, Allen & Company, had been retained in the last two NFL team sales [Carolina Panthers & Denver Broncos]. While that doesn’t guarantee Bezos will bid, it’s his strongest sign of interest in the storied NFL franchise yet.

Washington owner Dan Snyder’s reported asking price for the Commanders was $7 billion, but the early bidding topped out at $6.3 billion. Bezos was not involved in the first round of bidding.

A new report from Charles Gasparino of FOX Business indicates that Snyder told some around the NFL he will not sell the Commanders for anything less than $6 billion.

Here’s how Gasparino’s latest report links to Bezos:

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder is alerting NFL officials that his asking price for the team is $6 billion, a move that will significantly limit the number of bidders and puts billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in the pole position to buy the team.

Other bidders have long feared the process would be over once Bezos got involved. However, reaching $6 million shouldn’t be a problem for Snyder since the early round of bidding did top out at the reported $6.3 billion. One of the issues is the buyer must hold 30% in equity as a part of the sale. That’s not a problem for Bezos.

Commanders team president Jason Wright on team sale: ‘It continues to move forward’

Wright was asked about the team sale.

On the same day the Washington Commanders introduced new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy, there was news about the franchise’s potential sale.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, long considered the favorite to buy the team, had hired an investment firm to evaluate a potential bid for the Commanders. The investment firm Bezos hired is the same one involved during the last two NFL team sales [Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos].

While Bezos hiring the investment firm does not mean he will bid on the Commanders, it’s the first sign of legitimate interest.

So, what about the team sale?

After Bieniemy’s press conference Thursday, Darren Haynes of WUSA Channel 9 in Washington, D.C., had the chance to catch up with team president Jason Wright.

Haynes asked Wright about the team sale, and, of course, Wright couldn’t offer much due to the confidentiality of the situation. However, he did say this:

“It continues to move forward,” Wright said.

Five short words that said a lot.

Multiple sources have said they could see the Commanders sold before the NFL owner’s meetings next month. While Wright didn’t reveal any details on a potential sale, he didn’t say anything that leads you to believe the team isn’t being sold either.

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Jeff Bezos hires investment firm to look into potential bid on the Commanders

Finally, some news on Bezos’ potential interest in the Commanders.

It was a busy day for the Washington Commanders. Washington introduced new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy to the media on Thursday to much fanfare. Several Washington players were in attendance.

However, on Thursday evening, some potentially massive news broke, courtesy of The Washington Post, regarding the sale of the Commanders.

According to Mark Maske, Liz Clarke and Nicki Jhabvala, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has hired an investment firm to look into a potential bid for the NFL franchise. Washington owner Dan Snyder reportedly wants $7 billion for the franchise he purchased in 1999 for $800 million.

Bezos hired Allen & Company, which is based in New York and is known for transactions involving professional sports franchises. Interestingly enough, Allen & Company was also involved in the last two team sales of the Carolina Panthers [2018] and Denver Broncos [2022].

While others have made their interest known in the Commanders, such as Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, Bezos has remained in the background. Many believe he would sit out the early rounds of bidding and come in late with the winning bid, similar to what the Walton family did with the Broncos last year. The purpose of that strategy is so Bezos isn’t essentially bidding against himself.

Bezos has a net worth of $119 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Harris and at least two other potential buyers have visited Washington’s headquarters in Ashburn, Va.

Dan and Tanya Snyder announced in November that they had hired Bank of America to explore potential transactions of the franchise. While Snyder has never declared his intention to sell the entire team, most around the NFL believe that is the outcome.

Some reports have indicated that Snyder would not sell to Bezos, who owns The Washington Post. However, no one can compete with Bezos if he’s serious about buying the team.

Bezos hiring Allen & Company does not mean he will buy the Commanders, but that he’s exploring the possibility.

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Another prospective owner toured Washington’s team facilities recently

A third visitor recently checked out Washington’s facilities.

We’ve heard a lot of conflicting reports on the potential sale of the Washington Commanders recently. There were initial reports that the Commanders could fetch a massive price tag, but the early inquiries topped out at $6.3 billion, which was a disappointing number for owner Daniel Snyder, who allegedly wants $7 billion for the franchise.

Multiple reports stated that the sale could be completed by the NFL owner’s meetings in late March.

One thing has remained constant, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris was an interested buyer. Harris was one of two potential buyers who visited Washington’s team facilities in Ashburn. The other prospective owner was not identified.

Now comes a report from Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that a third prospective owner visited the team’s headquarters. This visit allegedly occurred on Friday and was not named.

Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos has not formally submitted a bid for the Commanders but, according to some, remains interested. It’s unknown if Bezos has visited Ashburn, but it seems unlikely, considering waiting until the final bids are in to make his interest known.

In November, we indicated that John Henry of Fenway Sports Group was interested in buying the Commanders. Henry owns the Boston Red Sox. Since then, we haven’t heard more regarding Henry’s possible interest.

However, on Sunday, a Twitter user posted some interesting information regarding a recent flight to Dulles Airport on Jan. 28 from a Fenway Sports Group jet.

As the Twitter user noted, it could mean nothing. But it’s certainly something to watch with Harris and two unnamed visitors to the franchise’s facilities.

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Commanders’ sale coming ‘weeks’ after the Super Bowl?

And it sounds like Jeff Bezos is indeed interested.

Washington fans can’t wait for Super Bowl LVII to arrive and leave. One, the hated Philadelphia Eagles are on the field against the Kansas City Chiefs. But, most importantly, fans anxiously await the news that owner Daniel Snyder has sold the team.

As we’ve learned over the years, the NFL doesn’t like to take the focus off the big game. Last month, Front Office Sports and JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington each reported news about Washington’s sale, with Finlay saying his sources told him the sale “will be over soon.”

How soon?

On Wednesday, Charles Gasparino of FOX Business Network sent out the following tweet:

There is a lot of interesting information in these tweets. That timeline matches with what Jay Glazer has said, as well as Finlay. Now, Gasparino, who is connected in the business world and not in sports, adds yet another layer of credibility to the previous reporting. A sale is happening.

It sounds like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other owners wanted to have this process completed by the NFL owner’s meetings next month so a vote could be taken to finalize new ownership. That sounds more true than ever.

And could Jeff Bezos still be involved? Remember, Bezos didn’t submit a bid in the first round of bids for strategic purposes. He has more wealth than anyone else, so if he bids, it makes sense to wait so he doesn’t end up bidding against himself effectively. Gasparino indicates NFL owners believe Bezos will be involved.

The biggest remaining question is when are the final bids due. You’d think it would need to be soon, with an NFL deadline rapidly approaching.

 

Dan Snyder’s Potomac estate officially hits the market

It can be yours for $49 million.

Dan Snyder’s football team isn’t the only thing he has for sale. Michael Neibauer of the Washington Business Journal reported Monday that Snyder’s Potomac estate is officially on the market for $49 million.

In addition to Snyder and his wife Tanya taking bids for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Snyder’s home, called the “River House,”  has been available since 2018. However, it wasn’t officially listed until recently.

If the Potomac, Md. home is sold for its asking price, it would be the most expensive home sale in DMV [D.C., Maryland & Virginia] history. In this case, Snyder would be breaking his own record. Snyder purchased a home in Alexandria in 2021 for $48 million.

Snyder’s Potomac home is 30K square feet, has nine bedrooms, 13.5 bathrooms, a 12-car garage, gym, spa lounge, library and so much more. The home sits on 15 wooded riverfront acres.

Snyder bought the Potomac home in 2000 for $8.64 million — one year after he purchased the then-Washington Redskins. The Snyder family doesn’t live a the River House, and while it’s been available in recent years, this is the first it has gone on the market.

In addition to the two homes, Snyder owns a 305-foot superyacht where he is known to spend a lot of his time. Snyder also owns property in England, which he listed as his primary residence this year.

Snyder has never said if his family is selling the Commanders outright or if he’s looking for investors. However, everyone around the NFL anticipates a full-team sale.

Commanders’ sale expected ‘sooner than later’

Jay Glazer is one of the NFL’s most plugged-in reporters.

Every week that the Washington Commanders aren’t sold, worry begins to creep into the minds of the team’s longtime fans.

Earlier this month, multiple reports — one from Front Office Sports and one from JP Finlay — said a sale is expected soon.

With Super Bowl LVII approaching, you probably will not hear a lot regarding the sale of Washington over the next two weeks. The NFL likes to keep the focus squarely on the big game, especially next week.

However, on Sunday, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports was answering fan questions and, no surprise, one of the questions posed to Glazer was regarding the sale of the Commanders. Remember, Glazer was the first one back in November to report a timeline for a potential Washington sale.

What was Glazer’s latest regarding a Commanders’ sale?

“Sooner than later,” Glazer said. “This whole time, they’ve wanted to get something done where they could basically vote on it at March NFL owner’s meetings. Where all the owners could vote. And after it becomes official, the sale has to be agreed on before that. So the latest you’re looking at is the end of March.”

Nothing new there. It’s along the lines of what Finlay said two weeks ago. While Washington would prefer things happen before the start of the new league year on March 15, that always seemed a bit too optimistic.

Glazer is one of the more respected NFL reporters, and he’s always maintained this timeline, which bodes well for the sale to become official in March.