Washington training-camp attendance balloons after team's sale
It's fair to say Washington football fans are loving life since Daniel Snyder's been gone.
Like a Kelly Clarkson song, they're so moving on, as made clear by photos taken at the past two training camps.
On July 20, NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris. Fans couldn't contain their excitement.
Per WTOP, a fan named Jason told the station, "This is amazing... It's the best day in the last 23 years." Another fan explained how he wouldn't miss a party, held at a local establishment called The Bullpen, once the sale was finalized. "You told me that Dan was signing papers to somebody else, and it didn't matter where it was, I was gonna be there," the fan said.
The difference is palpable for players, too. Running back Antonio Gibson said, "You have no choice but to notice it... Hopefully, that change is how they come out and support us."
USA Today reports that 10,000 fans are expected to be in attendance at the team's open practice on Saturday, Jul 29.
"The grandstands will be filled with fans in numbers never seen during Dan Snyder's ownership," Charles Bumbaca wrote.
It's clear in the week following the Commanders' sale that fans of the franchise didn't go anywhere, they were just so fed up with Snyder's rule it sucked all the fun out of supporting the team. With him out the door, fans can finally get back to embracing the organization.
That is, of course, until Harris guts the roster and sells the fanbase on a prolonged "process" or threatens to slash employees' pay during a public health crisis.
No matter what the future brings, Washington will always have this week to look back on in fondness. After 23 miserable years, that's more than enough.
More must-reads: