Did Monday provide another clear element of evidence that Washington Commanders Daniel Snyder is indeed selling the franchise?
In summary, the Washington Commanders settled a lawsuit with the District of Columbia attorney general’s office regarding many fans’ ticket deposit money.
Per John Keim of ESPN, the results of this settlement will have the Commanders returning $200,000 to fans of the team who were directly impacted. Secondly, the Commanders will also be paying $425,000 to the city of Washington “to resolve allegations that the team systematically failed to return ticket holders’ deposits and intentionally created barriers for fans to get refunds in violation of district law.”
Per the settlement: “Defendant denies all of the District’s allegations and claims, including that it has violated any consumer protection laws, including the CPPA. No part of this settlement, including its statements and commitments, shall constitute evidence of any liability,…
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 10, 2023
Snyder and his wife Tanya have cleaned out their offices at the Commanders Ashburn facility evidencing they intend to not return to work. This move to settle the dispute with the District is additional evidence Snyder is ready to move on from the Commanders.
His not appearing at the ceremony retiring the jersey No. 9 of Redskins’ Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen was surprising to many, and looking back became the first evidence that Snyder was ready to go a different direction professionally.
The potential buyers of the Commanders appear to have narrowed to three. Josh Harris with Mitchell Rales and Earvin “Magic” Johnson and others as a majority team. Steve Apostolopoulos, and the ever-possibility of Jeff Bezos swooping in late in the process to make the purchase.
Does today’s move by Snyder exhibit he does not want a legal fight in these last days of ownership? Is Daniel Snyder ready to now sign on the dotted line to sell the Commanders ending his ownership era, which began in 1999?