After 24 years of owning the Washington Commanders, Daniel Snyder has agreed to place the organization for sale. According to NBC Sports Washington, an agreement could be reached as soon as March. A frontrunner has yet to emerge in the bidding process, but Jeff Bezos has been linked to the team in the past.
Bezos, who is said to be the fourth-richest individual in the world, with a net worth of over 120 billion, certainly has the means to get involved in the sports ownership business. Yet, he has yet to become a central figure in the bidding process for the rights to own the Commanders.
According to Josh Kosman of the New York Post, Bezos could be getting closer to making a move as speculation begins to fuel the idea that the Amazon founder could sell the Washington Post to help come up with the necessary capital to purchase the Commanders.
But there are also reports suggesting Snyder, the current team owner, doesn’t want to sell his franchise to Bezos. This is reportedly stemming from the belief that the newspaper went out of its way to expose the alleged sexual harassment taking place in the Commanders’ workplace.
Kosman’s sources indicate that if Bezos is willing to sell the newspaper, maybe Snyder would have a change in heart, and be willing to allow Bezos to purchase the Commanders.
“I think Bezos’ people could go to Dan and say as a gesture of goodwill, ‘We are selling the paper,’” a source close to the situation said. “I think that would go a long way with Dan.”
Anonymous source on Jeff Bezos possibly angling to buy Washington Commanders
While Bezos reportedly told the Post’s staff that he isn’t considering selling the newspaper, Kosman has heard from multiple sources that the popular publishing could be up for sale, either now or soon.
Meanwhile, Bank of America, who was hired to formalize the sale of the Commanders, continues to vet Bezos as a potential buyer. A spokesperson for Bezos has since denied the suggestion that the Washington Post is for sale.
Related: Jeff Bezos reportedly could be candidate to buy Seattle Seahawks
Washington Commanders bid process begins but Jeff Bezos wasn’t involved
More reports emerged last week of the Commanders proceeding with their sales process by accepting initial bids for the sports franchise, but Bezos apparently wasn’t among the group of bidders.
Others have long held the stance that Snyder would simply never sell the team to Bezos, something NBC’s Peter King has heard as well.
It’s been long believed that the Commanders’ sale price could reach as high as $7 billion, which would be a new record for a professional sports organization. The previous NFL record was set in 2022 when the Denver Broncos sold for $4.65 billion. Chances are, the Commanders’ final sale price will shatter that mark. But it remains to be seen who will puny up the capital needed to execute the deal.
Some may feel Bezos has no chance, but as they say, money talks. And if Bezos sets a goal of purchasing the Commanders, who’s powerful enough to get in his way?
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