Commanders purchase is latest record U.S. sports team sale - ESPN

Another American sports franchise has been sold for yet another record price.

NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders for a record-setting mark of $6.05 billion, from the Snyder family to a group led by Josh Harris, who — along with David Blitzer as part of the Harris-Blitzer Sports Entertainment group — also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. The sale comes after a period of turmoil and multiple investigations of former owner Dan Snyder, who was also fined $60 million after attorney Mary Jo White released her findings following a lengthy investigation.

This deal adds to a recent surge in franchise sales prices. Here's a list of some of the most expensive franchise purchases in U.S. sports:

Sale price: $4.65 billion

The Walton-Penner group's $4.65 billion purchase of the Broncos in 2022 was the record sale price for an NFL team by more than $2 billion before the Commanders sale went through. Previously, former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson had sold his franchise to billionaire David Tepper for $2.275 billion in 2018.

Rob Walton's net worth is $57.9 billion, according to Forbes. His cousin and another Walmart heir, Ann Walton, is the wife of Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Kroenke also owns three Colorado sports teams: the NBA's Denver Nuggets, NHL's Colorado Avalanche and MLS' Colorado Rapids.

Sale price: $4 billion

The combined sale, which got league approval in February, set a new high-water mark for NBA franchises by more than $1.5 billion compared to what the Brooklyn Nets sold for in 2019. New owner Matt Ishbia was a walk-on for Michigan State and part of the Spartans' 2000 national championship team.

Sale price: $2.4 billion

The Mets had the