At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a fair fight. Red Sox principal owner John Henry is interested in buying the Washington Commanders, and he’ll be competing against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, according to the New York Post.
While Henry is a business mogul with a long history of turning around depreciated, yet iconic pro sports franchises, Bezos is one of the most recognizable and powerful billionaires in the world. Amazon already enjoys a multibillion-dollar partnership with the NFL for “Thursday Night Football.” It’s easy to imagine him effortlessly sliding into the league’s ownership ranks.
Besides, Forbes pegs Bezos’ net worth at $111 billion. Henry’s is estimated to be $4 billion.
But spite could make up the difference.
Buried in the Post’s report about Henry’s interest in the Commanders is the nugget that Daniel Snyder loathes Bezos, and could refuse to sell him the franchise. Bezos owns the Washington Post, which has published numerous exposes about the Commanders’ toxic workplace culture, including a sexual assault allegation levied against Snyder himself.
The Post’s reporting has helped spur NFL and congressional investigations into the Commanders’ inner-workings. On Thursday, the attorney general for Washington D.C. filed a civil suit against Snyder, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for allegedly colluding to deceive fans about the league’s inquiry into the franchise.
“Dan Snyder detests the Washington Post. No way he’d sell to the owner of that paper,” a source told NBC Sports.
Forbes values the Commanders at $5.6 billion, and it seems like Henry is trying to raise capital. Fenway Sports Group, the Red Sox’ parent company, is looking to unload Liverpool. The sale is expected to net between $4 billion and $5 billion.
When subtracting debt, Fenway Sports will likely collect $2 to $3 billion in a sale, the Post says.
Of course, Snyder is also responsible to his business partners, and they probably wouldn’t be happy if Bezos vastly outbids Henry, or anybody else, and gets turned down.
But assuming the bids are similar, Henry could receive the intangible edge. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s bought a pro sports team under unique circumstances.
