Commanders sale closer but not a done deal

The Commanders sale made headway late last week, as you may have heard — but a few crucial steps still remain.

Why it matters: Dan Snyder and a group led by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris announced a $6.05 billion deal last Friday, ending speculation over counter bids.

Driving the news: The group includes Washington-area billionaire Mitchell Rales and former NBA star Magic Johnson.

Yes, but: Before popping the champagne, the deal is still subject to approval from the NFL finance committee and a vote from league owners.

Last week, the finance committee raised some questions at a meeting and indicated they need time to scrutinize the details, the Washington Post reported.

• The deal is reportedly complex, with over a dozen limited partners in the mix.
• Besides Rales and Johnson, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and beer billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo are among the partners.

What they're saying: "Growing up in Chevy Chase, I experienced first-hand the excitement around the team, including its three Super Bowl victories and long-term winning culture," Harris said in a statement on behalf of his ownership group.

• Co-owners Tanya and Dan Snyder said they were "very pleased" to get to the agreement with "an area native and his impressive group of partners."

The big picture: The sale to hometown investors feeds more talk of a franchise return to RFK. That would require Congress to approve changes to the federal site’s lease, an issue that has been stalled under the divisive Snyder reign.

• Cuneyt recently broke down the pros and cons for Harris and Co. to consider when eyeing RFK.

What’s next: The league's owners meet at the end of May, but that may be too soon for a vote on the deal.