Another new report is linking Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to a potential bid to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Bezos has hired the New York-based investment firm Allen & Company to kick the tires on the football team. The firm is prominent in transactions involving professional sports franchises, according to the newspaper, and handled the two most recent sales of NFL franchises, involving the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.
The Post cited two people familiar with the situation who requested anonymity. GeekWire has reached out to a Bezos representative for comment.
The Panthers sold in 2018 for $2.275 billion. The Broncos sold last year for a record $4.65 billion. Forbes reported in December that the price for the Commanders could be at least $7 billion.
Bezos’ name surfaced as a potential buyer last November when current Commanders owners Dan and Tanya Snyder announced that they were exploring options to sell the team. Reports at the time said rapper and producer Jay-Z might join the billionaire as a partner.
Bezos has ties to the other Washington. He bought the The Washington Post for $250 million in 2013. The Post reported Thursday that Allen & Company was involved when the Graham family made that sale. Bezos also bought a $23 million mansion in D.C.’s exclusive Kalorama neighborhood in 2017.
Bezos’ billionaire status — and his ability to be a runaway bidder — causes his name to come up frequently when potential professional sports team ownership is the subject. He’s been mentioned as a strong contender to purchase the Seattle Seahawks when Jody Allen finally decides to sell, as is directed by the estate she controls for her late brother, Paul Allen.
Amazon is a major player in NFL circles these days. The tech giant has exclusive streaming rights to “Thursday Night Football” on Prime Video, an 11-year deal which reportedly cost the company $11 billion. It’s part of the company’s bid to grow its content library, bolster its advertising arm, and add more Prime subscribers, among other strategies.
