Jason Wright: Dan Snyder selling will be a ‘substantial boost’ to Commanders

PHOENIX — Jason Wright initially answered with one word when asked if he views a sale of the Washington Commanders as a positive. 

“Yes,” the team president said. 

Wright said Tuesday evening that owner Dan Snyder selling the team will provide a “substantial boost” to the franchise whenever that time comes. That will be reflected, he said, on the business side — where Wright expects to see an uptick that will allow further investment on the football side of the building. 

“When there’s an ownership change, we’ll be able to absorb the momentum of that,” Wright said, later adding, “They know that. I’m not saying anything that Dan and Tanya (Snyder) don’t know.” 

Wright spoke with The Washington Times as the NFL owners meetings concluded Tuesday — a day when reports emerged that two prospective candidates, Josh Harris and Steve Apostolopoulos, submitted formal bids for the Commanders that were worth $6 billion each.

The Commanders have been on the market since at least November when the team announced the Snyders hired an investment bank to explore “potential transactions.” A team spokesperson said then that meant the team was exploring “all options,” including a full sale.

On Tuesday, Wright made clear: A sale is going to happen. 

“I don’t know what indicators they’re giving that they’re not (selling),” Wright laughed. “What signal are they giving that they’re not selling the team?” 

Wright said that Snyder’s “family office” has mostly handled the sale process, adding he’s still “more than arm’s length away” from being directly involved. But as a top executive, Wright said he’s helped with the transition. When prospective buyers take tours of the Commanders’ facility, for instance, Wright said he leads “management presentations” to the candidates. 

He said he has given prospective buyers a full rundown of the Commanders’ business, telling them what areas need both the investment and the overall strategic direction that only an owner can provide. 

“Everybody needs to know what they’re walking into,” Wright said. 

Wright, though, was happy to talk about the strides the Commanders have made since he took the job in 2020. 

He pointed to Washington’s overhaul of the business side and gains in attendance and sponsorships. Though the Commanders ranked last in attendance in 2022, the team saw a 10% gain in that area — drawing an average of 58,106 fans per game in the fall, up from 52,751 in 2021. 

One big issue that remains unresolved? The Commanders’ stadium situation. Asked if the sales process has delayed progress on the Commanders finding a new home, Wright acknowledged that there are aspects of that search that have “slowed down” as the team waits for a new owner.

“You can’t make a decision on where you’re going to be when the person who is investing and building in that is not there,” Wright said. 

But Wright added he continues to do the leg work with local politicians to “better understand” the aspects of a potential project. He said he thinks 2027 — when the team’s lease at FedEx Field expires — remains a realistic goal for a new stadium to be completed, but noted it depends on the next ownership group.

“There’s no right answer there,” Wright said. “They could say, ‘Yes, fully aligned where things are. Let’s hit the gas pedal and go.’ Or say, ‘Hey, we need to rethink this aspect and this aspect.’ 

“Both would be good because the most important thing we need to do is have ownership aligned and excited and engaged on a project of that scale and scope, which requires so much capital and so much thought.” 

Another question looming over all of the others is whether Wright will be part of the next regime. When the last two NFL teams were sold, for instance, owners for the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos both hired new team presidents within months of the transition.

Wright said he plans to stay if the next group wants him.

“I’ve gotten to know some of these folks,” Wright said. “I’d love to work for them. They’re people that see the team as a community asset. They’re folks that are sharp business people, that want rigor in the business, that appreciate the transformation that we’ve done.

“So yeah, I’d love to work for them.”