Josh Harris talk about the team name, the stadium search and more
Josh Harris bought the Washington Commanders 13 months ago along with a large ownership group. He has been working on completely renovating the franchise from the bottom up. That included long-needed upgrades to the team”a stadium and the team’s practice facility. The team also announced today that the Sean Taylor “statue” that Dan Snyder commissioned was removed, and will be replaced with a more permanent tribute.
Josh Harris was asked again about the team’s name. He said Redskins can’t come back, but the team is looking into the name going forward. They are looking to unify the community around the team.
Harris has been focused on hiring a new team president and finding a new location amfor the team’s next stadium. Harris has been touring stadiums around the world, looking for the latest upgrades to the fans experience that he would like to bring to the DMV area.
LIVE: Managing Partner Josh Harris speaks to the media ahead of our preseason finale https://t.co/b1TKD8e5N8
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 25, 2024
New season:
Josh Harris is fired up to start the season pic.twitter.com/f0ypp7N6I8
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) August 25, 2024
Stadium upgrades
“I really get excited about fixing the place up for our fans”
Josh Harris on the renovations at @CommandersField ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YJE8960wVr
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 25, 2024
Harris said the team is working hard on getting the new stadium sorted out. Working with multiple jurisdictions to get that done. A lot of exciting stuff happening, but nothing major to share right now
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris says he walked through the stadium today and was excited about what’s been done but is already planning for more projects next year – the work isn’t done at upgrading the stadium https://t.co/4XjkSUBhRZ
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) August 25, 2024
Harris: I want people to feel comfortable at Commanders Field and feel part of a community
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
New stadium:
Josh Harris with an admitted non-update on the stadium progress.
Expects the Senate vote on DC’s control of the RFK site won’t come until after the 2024 elections.
Later says 2030 remains a fair target for a new place. pic.twitter.com/9gY2asogYa
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris calls 2030 a “realistic target” for a new stadium to be open for use.
“A lot of it is not within our control. There’s no way to predict a specific date but that’s a reasonable target.”
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris, on the latest with finding a new stadium location, the push to get RFK and the 2030 target for opening a new venue: pic.twitter.com/Pvu0jotevs
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 25, 2024
RFK Stadium:
“I’m incredibly motivated to bring it back!” #Commanders owner Josh Harris on going back to RFK and the glory days of the fan base. @team980 pic.twitter.com/Zx0OQbSZn1
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) August 25, 2024
New practice facility:
Josh Harris – “We’re the DMV, there’s three jurisdictions.” Harris said no decisions on practice facility movement until stadium situation finalizes.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 25, 2024
Jayden Daniels:
Harris said he “super pumped” Jayden Daniels is with the team. Obviously the stuff on the field is exciting, but who he is as a person is equally exciting
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
Dan Quinn:
Harris said Dan Quinn is very intense but is working toward building a culture. Players are having and are excited to be at the facility
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
New team president:
Harris said he’s engaged and personally leading the search for a new team president. Thanked Jason Wright for what he did in the role
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
Commanders owner Josh Harris and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown are leading the search for a new Commanders president. After weeks of interviewing executive search firms, they have settled on one to move the process forward, a source said.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 25, 2024
Sean Taylor statue:
Josh Harris said he had the Sean Taylor installation taken down because he deserves a first-class exhibit. pic.twitter.com/r8GMESuR7L
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 25, 2024
Harris on Sean Taylor statue: I wanted to make sure he had a first class memorial, first class exhibit
Mentioned it’s part of a bigger picture of embracing team’s legends
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 25, 2024
Long-term goals:
Josh Harris says last year’s record was dismal and he wants to be better than that. Added it’s about the big picture for him right now.
“I’m focused on our long term goals. I want to be elite and playing deep into the playoffs and competing for Super Bowls. I’m focused on…
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris says his goals are long-term and not immediately about this year. “I’m focused on building….Obviously the record was abysmal was last year and we better do better than that.” The development of Jayden Daniels is also paramount for the franchise.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 25, 2024
Stadium tour:
Josh Harris is touring the world when it comes to researching stadium ideas. Mentioned Tottenham, SoFi (Rams), new Clippers arena, among others.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 25, 2024
NFL draft in Washington D.C.:
Josh Harris on DC hosting a draft: “I think it’ll happen, it’s just a matter of when.” pic.twitter.com/SMFzemcDyb
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris believes the NFL Draft coming to D.C. “will happen” eventually. Sounds like the organization and NFL have gone down that road a bit. Nothing set. Mentioned the cool factor of hosting on the National Mall. pic.twitter.com/bv3ZSpF0cg
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris says he thinks an NFL Draft in downtown DC will “get done” but says it will be a few years.
Talked about ironing out things with the park service and referenced the National Mall as a site.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 25, 2024
Future training camp locations:
Josh Harris on the future of Commanders training camp – says Dan Quinn prefers to be away from the facility. “We have some options.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 25, 2024
Harris said he believed Dan Quinn’s preference for training camp would be to go away. Has been somewhat of a poorly-kept secret for a while that there are other places they’ve looked at for possible new summer homes.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 25, 2024
Focus:
Josh Harris says of all his business holdings he focuses on the Commanders and 76ers the most. He trusts his teammates and partners to lead other in spots. “I differ but hold people accountable”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 25, 2024
Team name:
Josh Harris on the Commanders name:
Reiterated the old name isn’t coming back and emphasizes other goals — like winning, the new stadium and unifying the fan base — that come first. pic.twitter.com/AfqDfRjeNN
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris on Commanders name struggling to take hold – “it does matter…The old name can’t come back…The first objective is we’ve got to win football games.” Says name debates while trying to bring fans back and find new stadium isn’t top of mind.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 25, 2024
Josh Harris: “We’ve been very clear. For obvious reasons, the old name can’t come back. But right now we’re focused on things that unify the team around our football team and unify the city around our football team. The first objective is we got to start winning football games.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 25, 2024
Fanbase:
Josh Harris on the fan base/enthusiasm for the team: “I do think it’s coming back. … it never went away but it got lost for a little while.” Said they’ve already sold more tickets for this season than they did all of last season.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 25, 2024
Last season:
“The record was dismal last year, and we better be better than that!” -Josh Harris #Commanders @team980 pic.twitter.com/br8v1OizKt
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) August 25, 2024