It still isn’t fully clear why Dan Snyder chose now to put the Washington Commanders up for sale, but it hardly seems like a coincidence that it’s running concurrently with discussions about a new stadium.
For many, there seems to be understandable trepidation about working with Snyder to provide the necessary funding to build a new stadium and move the Commanders out of FedExField in Landover, Md. However, the team getting sold to a new owner/ownership group could help get the wheels in turning faster.
It was interesting, then, that when Jerry Jones was asked Tuesday in his weekly appearance on “Shan and RJ” about a potential sale, he kept pointing to the stadium.
“They’re exploring options and, basically, that is really in my view an operating option in the sense that they’ve got some great plans to build a fabulous venue in the nation’s capital," Jones said. "And in doing so, it’ll raise all boats in the NFL, raise our game. But that’s going to take an enormous amount of capital, look at what had to be spent in Los Angeles to get that (SoFi Stadium) out there.
“These stadiums have really increased in terms of the amount of resources it takes to get one done at that level. That will be an expensive build up there in the Washington area. All of that is why they’re looking at their options financially.”
Jones has made efforts of late to play things down the middle when asked about Snyder and the Commanders. He did just that when asked if there needs to be a change in Washington.
“Again, I’m not getting there," Jones said. "But usually, these things are dictated totally by the financial implications. Completely. Whether it be from an owner’s standpoint of his for what he may have on a personal basis, or whether that’s what it takes to make the franchise be what it can be.
“Make no mistake, that Washington franchise is one of the great sports franchises in the world. It’ll get to its fruition by virtue of just doing what they’re doing, they’re checking their different ways they can to get that stadium built and get that team competing at a high level. I know that’s arm-waving, but this is just the process.”
Snyder bought out his minority owners in March of 2021, so he currently has full ownership of the team. He could sell the team in full, or sell shares and get a quick influx of cash to help build the stadium while retaining majority ownership. But, again, if there’s resistance to work with Snyder on getting that done, then such a build would be more likely to get done with a totally new group.
Further, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported over the weekend that Snyder was eyeing a full sale of the team.
There will be interest in the Commanders, with Glazer saying the asking price is around $7 billion. However, the Snyders hired Bank of America to explore the sale just a couple weeks after saying they wouldn’t, so a lot is subject to change.
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