The Washington Commanders reached a settlement in one of two cases with the D.C. Attorney General’s Office, stemming from failing to refund season ticket deposits to fans in the city. The Commanders will pay D.C. $425,000 in fines and refund $200,000 worth of tickets to fans.
“Rather than being transparent and upfront in their ticket sale practices, the Commanders unlawfully took advantage of their fan base, holding on to security deposits instead of returning them,” D.C. attorney general Brian L. Schwalb said in a statement.
Despite Schwalb saying the team was informed of their “deceptive” practices in 2009, the Commanders responded with a statement denying the allegations.
“We have not accepted security deposits or seat licenses in more than a decade and have been actively working to return any remaining deposits since 2014,” the team’s statement read. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement on the matter with the DC Attorney General and will work with the office to fulfill our obligations to our fans.”
The allegations against the Commanders arose during an investigation by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Congress alerted the Federal Trade Commission of Washington’s practices.
The Commanders settled amid speculation that current owner Dan Snyder is on the verge of selling the team.
“I think the lawsuits against the team are independent of any potential sale of the team,” Schwalb stated. “So my expectation is that, of course, this settlement will put to end at least one of the two cases by way of settlement, and the other case will continue until it’s either tried or resolved.”
At the very least, if the Commanders sell, the new owner(s) will have one less legal worry.
Snyder and the Commanders have been the subject of multiple investigations over the past three years. That includes two overseen by the NFL. Attorney Mary Jo White is heading the league’s current probe. She is looking into sexual harassment allegations against Snyder, as well as any financial improprieties by the team.
