NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that he thinks Josh Harris’ $6.05 billion deal to purchase the Washington Commanders will ultimately receive approval from the league owners, despite no vote being taken at this week’s league meetings in Minnesota.
Speaking with reporters at the conclusion of the two-day meetings, Goodell said the league was in the process of reviewing Harris’ signed agreement to buy the team from owner Dan Snyder.
“I think we’ll get it to a place where it’ll be approved,” Goodell said of Harris’ deal. “We really just had our first meeting (Monday) on the matter. We really got the documents last week, so we’re hard at work. … There’s a lot of due diligence, as well as compliance issues. All of that is happening and working full speed.
“We’ll be in contact with the finance committee and when they’re prepared to make a recommendation, we’ll alert the media, as well as the membership, and we’ll have a meeting at the appropriate time.”
A day earlier, the Indianapolis Colts’ Jim Irsay, one of the eight owners who sits on the finance committee, called Harris’ deal “complicated” and said there it was still “a little ways away” from receiving league approval — which requires 24 of 32 votes from owners. Repeatedly, Irsay said that Harris’ bid had to meet the league’s criteria for purchasing a team. “There’s more work to be done,” he said.
Harris’ deal contains at least a dozen limited partners, a group that includes NBA legend Magic Johnson and Maryland billionaire Mitchell Rales. That aspect — as well as reported debt issues — added a layer of complexity to the agreement that Harris and the league have to sort through.
Goodell said the league’s finance committee has examined whether any of its policies would need to be updated in the wake of the rising cost of franchises. If Harris’ group is approved, the $6.05 billion price tag will set a record for a professional sports team.
As part of the league’s requirements, the controlling owner needs to own at least 30% of the franchise, no ownership group can exceed 25 limited partners and teams can only borrow up to $1.1 billion in debt to facilitate the deal.
Goodell did not indicate whether he’d like to see a deal done in time for the start of next season, which begins in September. Instead, the executive said the league would “approve it when it’s ready.”
With no vote taken this week, NFL owners aren’t scheduled to meet again until October, but Goodell can call for a special meeting to take place in order to solicit a vote. That happened last year with Rob Walton’s $4.65 billion purchase of the Denver Broncos, when owners met in August to approve the deal.
“We’ll work as quickly as we can,” Goodell said.
Goodell also fielded several other Washington-related questions. He said he wasn’t concerned that investigator Mary Jo White still hasn’t concluded the league’s ongoing investigation into Snyder and the Commanders — 15 months after the inquiry related to allegations of sexual and financial misconduct began in February 2022. White is being “incredibly thorough,” Goodell said.
The commissioner was asked about the importance of the Commanders landing a new stadium and whether he viewed getting back to the District as a “priority” for the league. District Mayor Muriel Bowser has continued to advocate for the Commanders to return to the city.
“Listen, I’ve had conversations with the mayor, I’ve had conversations with others in the Washington, D.C., region,” Goodell said. “As you probably know, I grew up in Washington, D.C., going to RFK Stadium. … That’s something that new ownership is going to have to address. It’s not something we’re requiring in the context of the transaction.
“But I know that the new ownership will be focused on it, just based on the limited conversation I’ve had with them.”
Earlier in the day, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones again weighed in on Washington’s sale and said Harris’ deal was on a “good course to happen.” Throughout the two-day meetings, Jones repeatedly praised Harris — the managing owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils — and the group he put together to buy the Commanders.
“This is just an outstanding group,” Jones said. “Certainly one I’d be proud to have a part of the NFL.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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