Jeff Bezos has yet to make a bid for the Washington Commanders as rumors swirl that owner Dan Snyder has no interest in selling to the man who owns The Washington Post after the paper’s expose of the team’s sexual harassment scandal.
But a new report suggests that could change.
The New York Post reported that Bezos may sell The Washington Post in order to make a bid for Commanders, citing two anonymous sources close to the situation. Bezos and The Washington Post, through spokespeople, told the outlet that the paper is not for sale, but sources believe that Bezos still may be willing to sell it.
“I think Bezos’ people could go to Dan and say as a gesture of goodwill, ‘We are selling the paper,’” a source told the New York Post. “I think that would go a long way with Dan.”
Bezos made a visit to The Washington Post’s newsroom last week. The paper’s publisher, Fred Ryan, told staff last month that there will be layoffs during the first quarter of 2023.
The Commanders announced in November that the Snyders had hired an investment bank to explore “potential transactions” of the franchise, including a sale of the team. That bank reportedly set a late December deadline for the first round of bids to be due — but reports indicated recently that the team did not receive an offer higher than $6.3 billion, lower than the $7 billion target that Snyder is seeking.
NBC Sports Washington reported that with Bezos yet to make an offer, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris might be the “top candidate” to buy the Commanders.
Front Office Sports reported that Bank of America Securities, the investment bank hired by Snyder, “continues to court Bezos” to make an offer. Bezos emerged as an early prospective buyer in the process — rumored to be interested in partnering with rapper Jay-Z — and was largely considered to be the frontrunner because of his extreme personal wealth.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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