El last Thursday, February 23, Jeff Bezos hired the services of a financial consultant to monitor the feasibility of buying the Washington Commanders, an NFL franchise which currently belongs to Daniel Snyder. Allen & Companythe investment consultancy trusted by the owner of Amazon, is the company behind the last two football property sales.
in 2018 helped David Tepper win the Carolina Panthers for $2.2 billions (2,078 in million euros) and in 2022 intervened in the 4,650 million dollars (4,393 in euros) paid by the Walton family, owners of Walmart supermarkets, for the Denver Broncos.
At the time, both marked an absolute record in terms of the purchase of franchises in the NFL. Also, also are the two richest properties in the league American football. Which would be ridiculous with the 112 million euros in which the assets of the third richest man on the planet are calculated.
From ‘The Athletic’ Bezos’s interest in getting a team in the NFL was already leaked about a year ago, being at that time the Seattle Seahawks the most rumored possibility. For years, the tycoon has been strengthening his ties with the sports industry more and more.
Last year, Amazon obtained the broadcasting rights of the Thursday Night Football of the NFL, the day of Thursday for which he will pay a billion dollars a year from the start of the next season until 2033. Which will bring American football to Prime Video, the platform from which Bezos intends to also become a mastodon of the media and audiovisual content.
Jeff Bezos chats with Clark Hunt and Dean Spanos, owners of the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers
In addition, its investment fund has also participated in minor projects such as Overtimedigital content company who wants to represent the sports communication of the future.
However, on his way to get the Commanders he will find a stumbling block that may make it more expensive or even prevent you from complying with your wishes. to begin with, because the sale process in which the franchise is immersed is not, far from it, to the liking of its owner.
Dan Snyder is someone who loves his position as a sports owner.which he has held since 1999. And only he is forced to leave it in the hands of others due to the investigation that the league is undertaking on his work environment due to the alleged toxic environment that hides even accusations of sexual harassment.
The Board of Governors of the league, or what is the same, the bulk of the remaining owners, have agreed to start the sale process despite the fact that the NFL is currently involved in a second investigation about the organization.
Very dirty laundry in the offices of Washington
The investigation the Commanders are currently facing points squarely at Dan Snyder.
Unfortunately, in recent times there have been numerous cases of deplorable work environments in the offices of American sports. But it’s rare that the allegations target the owner as starkly as they do in this case. These complaints usually speak of being a participant, promoter or indolent with respect to certain toxic behaviors that occur in work environments.
However, Tiffani Johnston, former cheerleader and marketing director for the team, testified on February 3, 2022 before the Capitol that Dan Snyder had tried to abuse her during a business dinner in which he grabbed her thigh with his hand and invited her vehemently to climb into his limousine at the end of the evening. Earlier, in 2020, the owner had already been fined $10 million for a first investigation.
declared hate
Part of the scandals in which the franchise has allegedly been involved were aired in their day by the ‘Washington Post’. Newspaper with which Snyder has a complicated relationship and whose owner, Jeff Bezos himself, hates.
“It’s not going to happen. Snyder hates the Washington Post and Jeff Bezos owns it. There’s no way I’m selling the club to him“Assured a source close to the Commanders to Peter Kingjournalist of the ‘NBC‘. According to leaks from the same circles, Snyder believes that it has been Jeff Bezos personally who has instigated these investigations with the aim of placing himself in a position of power. when it came to taking over the Washington franchise.
Snyder hates the Washington Post and Jeff Bezos owns it. There’s no way I’m selling the club to him
The owner of Amazon is not the only bidder in this bid. Josh Harrisowner of the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), the New Jersey Devils (NHL) y el Crystal Palace (Premier League) seems to be your biggest competitor right nowas pointed out in ‘The Athletic’ for his recent visit to the Commanders’ facilities. Although his fortune, calculated by ‘Forbes’ at 6.2 billion dollarswould probably require other partners to make the purchase.
The first round of offers closed on December 23. In it it was reported that the highest bid had been 6.300 million dollars, but that at that point in the negotiations, the amounts discussed They are just verbal approximations.. In principle, Dan and his wife Tanya, co-owner, estimated the sale at a price between 5,500 and 6,500 ‘kilos’.
Josh Harris has been the last to enter the bid for the Washington Commanders
Where I said I say…
But, about to close the second deadline, expectations have grown to set the limit at 7,000. This same week, before the final entry of Bezos in the bid, a banker who has done business with the Washington Commanders in recent times he told The Athletic that “if Bezos offers 200 million more, Dan himself will give him a tour of the stadium. As much as I hate him.”
If Bezos offers 200 million more, Dan himself will give him a tour of the stadium.
Information that contradicts the latest news in this whole matter. And it is that Bank of America, the bank that leads the sale process, would have denied Bezos the possibility of presenting any offer. At least so far. Which does not mean that the NFL cannot force negotiations in favor of the tycoon or that Snyder ends up giving his arm to twist.r if Bezos’s offer is succulent enough.
Things being like this, Will Amazon and Jeff Bezos be able to expand their already vast empire into sports properties? If it is a matter of moneyand finally it seems that it is, this surely not a problem for a man who has it for punishment.
