D.C. Sports: New Era for Washington Commanders, Women’s World Cup
By • July 20, 2023 0 1081
In a city not so typically sports-oriented, there’s lots of sports news right now. Of course, let’s remember it was not too long ago that we were cheering the 2019 World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals, and the 2018 Stanley Cup winners, the Washington Capitals.
First Up: The Washington Commanders
NFL team owners are expected to vote today on the sale of the Washington Commanders to Josh Harris and his investment partners. Harris is a private equity billionaire who grew up in the Washington metropolitan area. According to his Wikipedia entry, “he managed a few lemonade stands around Washington, D.C., including one at the National Zoo,” during summer breaks as a kid.
Josh Harris is the new owner of the Washington Commanders. Wikipedia photo.
Harris attended the Field School on Foxhall Road, where his favorite sport was wrestling (to which he attributes his subsequent work ethic). He earned an economics degree at the Wharton School in 1986, worked for a bit at Drexel Burnham Lambert, then received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Following graduation, he co-founded the private equity company Apollo Global Management with former Drexel associates, where he supervised day-to-day operations. In 2022, he left to focus on sports management. Today, Harris owns both an NBA team and an NHL team — the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.
The league’s 32 owners will need three-fourths of their votes in the NFL Owners Association to approve the sale. Dan Snyder agreed to a $6.05 billion dollar deal with Harris in April. He originally purchased the Washington Redskins team in 1999 for $800 million and was soon pressured to change the team’s name. After vowing never to alter the team’s moniker, he finally gave in to pressures from team investors and launched the team’s new name – The Washington Commanders – in 2022.
The end of the Snyder era — fraught with much controversy — means that the Commanders get a chance for a complete refresh of the team and to build a new stadium, perhaps in Washington, D.C.
A pep rally is scheduled Friday at 1 p.m. at FedEx Field, most likely with the new owners. You can find more information on the rally here.
Next: The Women’s World Cup
The Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, begins today and to encourage viewing parties, the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration offered extended hours for the tournament, which runs through Aug. 20. Eligible bars and restaurants are allowed to stay open around-the-clock and serve alcohol from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m. The American team is the most successful Women’s World Cup national squad in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having won four titles and the last two-in-a-row, (winning in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019).
The USA Women’s World Cup Team fights for the top spot beginning tomorrow. Courtesy USA Soccer.
The U.S. first-round matches are against Vietnam Friday at 9 p.m. and the Netherlands July 26 at 9 p.m. More information on World Cup action can be found here.
Don’t Miss the Washington Spirit Phenom Trinity Rodman
At just 18 years old, Trinity Rodman (whose parents are the NBA’s Dennis Rodman and Michelle Moyer) became the youngest drafted player in National Women’s Soccer League history. At 21, Rodman plays for the Washington Spirit as a forward. She’s the league’s highest-paid player with a $1.1 million-dollar, four-year contract. Currently, she’s on the U.S. Women’s national team — don’t forget to cheer her on during Friday evening’s match!
Look for local soccer star of the Washington Spirit to be a key player in the Women’s World Cup. Instagram photo.
