Harris and Co. making immediate impression with Commanders fan base
When Josh Harris and his investment group officially purchased the Washington Commanders, the bar wasn't very high in terms of satisfying the team's fans. All he had to do was not be Dan Snyder.
Thus far, Harris and company have gone well beyond that, and he's already a fan favorite with the Commanders faithful.
Harris immediately endeared himself to D.C. by calling live into a local radio show and buying free beers for the nearly 1,000 fans in attendance celebrating his introduction. If the ovation he got at training camp is any indication, those may just be the last drinks he'll ever have to pay for in the DMV.
Fans received more pleasant news when minority investor and former NBA superstar Magic Johnson said that there's a chance the team may change its name again following the 2023 season. Many are tired of the constant name drama by now, but a total rebrand would allow the team to wash away any ties to the Snyder era.
Harris also seems to be in support of moving the Commanders' home field back to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, where the team played until 1996. This would be a massively popular development should it happen, as longtime Washington loyalists associate that stadium with the franchise's golden years.
At training camp, there has been by all accounts nothing but positive energy. Players like Chase Young have spoken glowingly of the new ownership group, and there seems to be a general vibe in Ashburn that is genuinely optimistic for the future -- for perhaps the first time in more than 20 years.
Of course, the Commanders will need to win games on the field in order for this honeymoon to last. But for now, fans can take solace in having the biggest thing they've been missing for decades: an owner who cares.
More must-reads: