When the Washington Commanders and District Mayor Muriel Bowser presented their big $3.8 billion stadium show in April, they had a cast of heavyweights from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to Super Bowl coach Joe Gibbs and some of the football team’s biggest legends – Doug Williams, John Riggins and Darrell Green.
It was a powerful lineup, led by Commanders owner Josh Harris, staged to win the press conference and the hearts and minds of D.C. residents and decision-makers
But maybe the heaviest hitter of all — the one who, in a city like Washington, would likely capture the attention and imagination of the audience stadium backers hope to reach and convince — was not there.
The only thing more puzzling to me about the absence of the highest-profile owner of the football team was that no one seemed to notice the absence of NBA legend and billionaire business icon Magic Johnson.
I haven’t tried to get many city governments to put up $1.1 billion in taxpayer funds to help build a football stadium. Maybe I’m missing something here.
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