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Entertainment Studios founder ByronAllen has reportedly formed an investor group to explore thepotential purchase of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
Kamaron Leach of Bloomberg reportedThursday that Allen, who would be the NFL’s first Black majorityowner, is “preparing a bid” for the Commanders after previouslybeing involved in the Denver Broncos sale process, which the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group won.
Washington owners Daniel and TanyaSnyder announced Wednesday they’d retained Bank of America Securitiesto “consider potential transactions” involving the franchise.
A representative for Allen declined to comment to Bloomberg about his interest in the Commanders, andsources told Leach the media entrepreneur’s “plans could change.”
Allen has amassed an estimated networth of $500 million, per Emmy Wallin of Wealthy Gorilla. He alsohas experience in the sports industry after completing a $10 billiondeal in 2019 to acquire 21 regional sports channels from Disney.
In February, the 61-year-old Detroitnative told Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press he was approached byNFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner RobertKraft about joining the Broncos discussions.
“[They] said: ‘We need your help. Wewant to achieve an important goal, which is to have the first Blackowner of an NFL team, which is something we haven’t been able toachieve in 100 years,'” Allen said. “I said, ‘I’m happy tohelp.'”
He added that having a Black owner in theNFL would be “great for the league and, more importantly, great forthe country.”
“I think it’s important that we haveBlack people throughout the entire ecosystem, not just coaches,management, vendors as well as owners,” Allen said. “That’s howyou are going to effectuate real positive change. They need somebodylike me in that owners’ room to help bring a different perspective.You can’t have it look like everybody going to the same countryclub.”
Allen and Co. will face plenty ofcompetition, however, as Forbes’ Mike Ozanian reported at least fourgroups have already contacted the Snyders about the possible sale.
In August, Forbes ranked the Commandersas the NFL’s sixth-most valuable franchise with a $5.6 billionvaluation, a 33 percent increase from 2021.
The Snyders have held the majorityownership stake in the organization since 1999. Since that point,the team has qualified for the playoffs just six times in 23 yearsand captured no Super Bowl titles.
Washington was fined $10 million by theNFL in July 2021 after an investigation determined it possessed atoxic culture that included bullying, intimidation, multipleallegations of sexual harassment, and a general lack of respect in theworkplace. The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform has since launched its own probe into those allegations.
In addition, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr.reported Wednesday the franchise is also facing a criminal investigation by theU.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia related toallegations it committed financial improprieties.
No timetable for a potential sale wasimmediately announced.
The Commanders own a 4-4 record so farthis season as they get prepared to host the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings atFedEx Field on Sunday.
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