Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
'Simply greed': Washington Commanders to pay $1.3M settlement in Va. season ticket lawsuit
’Simply greed’: Washington Commanders to pay $1.3M settlement in Va. season ticket lawsuit
Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com
June 18, 2024, 4:40 PM
It was no minor accounting error that kept Washington Commanders fans from getting their security deposits back for tickets to upcoming games. “It was simply greed,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. … Miyares said he applauded the new owners of the team who recognized that they “inherited these mistakes.” A group led by Josh Harris acquired the team in July 2023 from Dan Snyder, who had been the team’s owner since 1999.
Under the agreement, about $600,000 in security deposits could be returned. The team will pay another $600,000 in fines, as well as $100,000 in attorneys’ fees, Miyares said. … In 2022, the team agreed to refund Maryland season-ticket holders and pay a $250,000 fee after authorities there brought a similar lawsuit. In D.C., the team agreed to refund $200,000 to fans who paid security deposits, in addition to paying $425,000 to resolve allegations related to the deposits.
It was a scheme that Miyares said dated back to the mid-1990s. The team would offer customers discounted prices for seats to games if they signed a multiyear contract and paid a security deposit. Those security deposits, which could range into the thousands of dollars, were supposed to be returned or refunded when the contract ended, but that did not happen, prosecutors said.
At one point in 2016, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform said the team retained up to $5 million from 2,000 season-ticket holders, The Associated Press reported.
{snip}
Abigail Constantino
Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a graduate of American University and The George Washington University.
aconstantino@wtop.com
Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com
June 18, 2024, 4:40 PM
It was no minor accounting error that kept Washington Commanders fans from getting their security deposits back for tickets to upcoming games. “It was simply greed,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. … Miyares said he applauded the new owners of the team who recognized that they “inherited these mistakes.” A group led by Josh Harris acquired the team in July 2023 from Dan Snyder, who had been the team’s owner since 1999.
Under the agreement, about $600,000 in security deposits could be returned. The team will pay another $600,000 in fines, as well as $100,000 in attorneys’ fees, Miyares said. … In 2022, the team agreed to refund Maryland season-ticket holders and pay a $250,000 fee after authorities there brought a similar lawsuit. In D.C., the team agreed to refund $200,000 to fans who paid security deposits, in addition to paying $425,000 to resolve allegations related to the deposits.
It was a scheme that Miyares said dated back to the mid-1990s. The team would offer customers discounted prices for seats to games if they signed a multiyear contract and paid a security deposit. Those security deposits, which could range into the thousands of dollars, were supposed to be returned or refunded when the contract ended, but that did not happen, prosecutors said.
At one point in 2016, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform said the team retained up to $5 million from 2,000 season-ticket holders, The Associated Press reported.
{snip}
Abigail Constantino
Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a graduate of American University and The George Washington University.
aconstantino@wtop.com