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- Bezos reportedly brought in Allen & Company to evaluate potential bid
- 59-year-old may turn attention to Seattle Seahawks
- Hopes growing that Commanders sale can be agreed in coming weeks
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has no plans to bid for the National Football League’s (NFL) Washington Commanders, according to The Washington Post.
Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, had reportedly brought in investment bank Allen & Company in February to evaluate a potential bid for the franchise and has been linked with a deal since last year.
New York-based Allen & Company conducted the sale of the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers for US$4.65 billion and US$2.275 billion, respectively, the two most recent sales in the NFL.
No reason has been given for Bezos’ purported withdrawal from the Commanders sales process, but the team’s incumbent owner Dan Snyder is said to be unhappy that The Washington Post released several stories alleging a toxic workplace culture around the team.
Bezos was reportedly prepared to sell the newspaper in order to clear the way for a deal for the Commanders, seeing the move as a sign of goodwill that would convince Snyder.
Bezos may now reportedly turn his attention to the Seattle Seahawks, which are expected to be sold in the coming years.
The latest developments could open the door for the group led by Josh Harris, who owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, to purchase the Commanders. The Washington Post states the group would be the favourite if Bezos does not bid and hopes are said to be growing that a deal could occur in the coming weeks.
Any sale would need to be approved by at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners, who are scheduled to meet next month in Minneapolis.
Harris’ group, and another fronted by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, reportedly entered competing formal bids last month for the Commanders. Harris’ bid was believed to be for about US$6 billion, which is a record offer for an NFL team.
According to The Washington Post, Snyder appeared to be attempting to use a potential Bezos bid to increase the price for Harris’ group.
Other prospective buyers include Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Media entrepreneur Byron Allen and Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had also been linked with a deal.
Fertitta told CNBC earlier this week that he bid US$5.6 billion for the Commanders and wasn’t planning to raise the offer, saying “at some point you’ve got to draw a line in the sand”.
