The Washington Commanders' return to RFK runs through Amazon. Jeff Bezos is the only one who can give enough to pry the team's former home from the federal government while also appeasing city leaders and nearby residents.
The Commanders will be sold next year no matter the occasional story of owner Dan Snyder suffering seller's remorse. FedEx Field will be empty should Snyder renege on his exit.
Bank of America is currently delivering prospectus to bidders. Shouldn't need more than a half dozen copies and several of those are for looky-lous. BOA doesn't need to hire salespeople for this one. One person with a couple colored pens and notepad can handle inquiries.
Bezos is the top-ranked potential buyer, mostly because he has more money than practically anyone on the planet. That doesn't mean he's willing to grossly overpay, especially given the Seattle Seahawks should be on the market in 2024.
However, the NFL really wants Bezos as one of its partners after inking a Thursday night game deal with the latter's Prime network. Bezos can make a major-market team like Washington into a bigger money-maker than Seattle.
And, Bezos may be the best bidder to regain the RFK site because that won't be about money. It's about commercial development of the city's eastern gateway that has waterfront and mass transit to supersize its worth. It's about giving the federal government something it wants for property that must be moved into the city's hands before being leased to a team owner.
Again, Bezos is the best person for that. Oh, there are other expected wealthy bidders like media mogul Byron Allen, multi-sports team owner Josh Harris and United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia. However, those simply appear to be business opportunities whose spillover benefits stop at the stadium's border.
Bezos' far-reaching empire can entice both federal and local leaders into delivering the RFK grounds. First, Bezos trades a mountain, forest, desert or whatever for RFK's 190 acres. It has happened all too often between big companies and the government. The deal would then transfer the land's control to the District, which has unsuccessfully lobbied for it for years. Seems "pretty please" doesn't work anymore. The feds don't seem inclined to help the city so let Bezos grease the wheels.
As a side deal, Bezos gets city leaders to lease him the land. Well, not all of it. The way to make city leaders happy is to concede Reservation 13 and most of the parking lots to commercial and residential uses. The team should control the stadium's footprint and one parking lot. The rest becomes an entertainment district, housing and commercial venues.
You want more grocery stores? Bezos can open a Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh tomorrow. Need a Target, Costco or Walmart? Bezos can make that happen. Other prospective bidders can't.
These venues create jobs, fill residents' daily needs and make RFK an exciting neighborhood much like Nationals Park with the Navy Yard and Capital One Arena's revival of Chinatown.
Wait, one parking lot? Oh, the greatness of this site is transit, not tailgating. And, that benefits the District even more. In the Redskins' glory days, massive amounts of fans ate brunch downtown and jumped onto the metro before games. That means money across the city. And, there can be two metro stops at RFK so it won't be overwhelmed.
Sorry tailgaters, your time is nearing an end. And, that's OK. It's a worthy trade for the team returning to town with equal access to Virginia and Maryland. Besides, parking would easily cost $100 per game.
District leaders knew Snyder's stadium plan would only profit the owner. Bezos can spread the wealth to get politicians' attention. That's why he's the best candidate to own the team.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
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