OPINION:
When the Washington Commanders and D.C. 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.
But if I were trying to win over support to get the biggest public handout in the history of the District, I would enlist the aid of Magic.
I’m sure council members and staffers were properly impressed when the new owner and NFL commissioner visited their offices in the Wilson Building following the press conference.
But if Magic was along for that visit, there would have been hundreds of pictures that would have likely wound up tagged on the social media accounts of those who might affect the outcome of a vote to support this multi-billion project for them to see every day, and stories to tell friends and family members about the time they met the five-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer.
What do I know, though … I’ve never tried to build a $3.8 billion stadium.
When Magic was announced as part of the group assembled by Harris to pay $6 billion to Dan Snyder to buy the football team, some believed that his presence would be a huge asset when it came time to try to get a stadium built in the District.
He showed up for probably the biggest business deal the team made since the purchase of the franchise when they had a press conference in September before the game with the New York Giants announcing a new stadium naming rights deal with Northwest Federal Credit Union. But not for the announcement of the business deal that could change the history of the franchise — a new stadium.
He did retweet a story from The Athletic about the stadium project the day of the press conference, with this quote, “I’m so excited about this incredible project. Our new stadium will be a state of the art facility including a roof and entertainment areas!” He also reposted the Commanders link to the press conference.
I figured maybe there was a good reason for his absence, so I reached out to Magic Johnson Enterprises for a comment, but there was no response. I asked the Commanders, and got this response:
“Mr. Johnson is an incredible partner and has been supportive behind the scenes in the revitalization of the franchise.
“Josh is the Managing Partner and head of our ownership group. All of our limited partners have added incredible value to the franchise, including Mr. Johnson.
“Just because someone isn’t at a press event doesn’t mean they aren’t contributing. Again, Josh is the lead for our ownership group.
“We expect that Mr. Johnson will be involved in this project going forward.”
Now would seem like a good time to be involved.
Two months later, Mayor Muriel Bowser has attached a sense of urgency to the stadium project, trying to raise fears that if the council delays the timetable she and the team agreed upon — which includes council approval by the middle of next month, when reportedly the city’s exclusive window with the Commanders expires — the RFK stadium project could be in jeopardy.
She said the Commanders are “outraged” at the possibility of a delay and that it “sacrifices our exclusive seat at the table and $2.7 billion in private investment … the time is now to act.”
This is political bluster. The Commanders aren’t going anywhere. I thought that the existing site on land the team already owns in Landover would be the favored location, given it remains the path of least resistance.
But that was before I knew the District stadium deal included a bag of real estate cash the city will hand over to the team — acres of prime real estate beyond the stadium for the Commanders to develop and reap the very lucrative financial rewards from. They are not walking away from that.
But if there is a sense of real urgency, it would seem like a good idea to have a powerful figure like Magic Johnson making a personal stadium pitch to District officials.
I reached out to a number of council members. None of them, including Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s office, said they had any contact or discussions with Magic.
Again, I sought a response from Magic Johnson Enterprises and received none. Again, I reached out to the Commanders asking why Magic has not been more involved in the lobbying for the stadium. Again, for background, this: “We’ve been actively engaged with all our partners, and they are looped in and very aware … Magic has been a great partner and certainly is supportive of the project.”
If it were me, I would have set up a pop-up office for Magic outside the Wilson Building. But that’s just me.
If the Commanders truly feel “blindsided” and “outraged,” as the mayor has said about the stadium deal being in danger, then it’s time to give the ball to Magic.
• Catch Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.