The Washington Commanders have settled a two-year investigation with the Virginia attorney general for $1.3 million regarding season-ticket deposits. The agreement includes paying over $600,000 in deposits and $700,000 in penalties and investigation costs.
The investigation began in 2022 after concerns were raised during a congressional investigation about financial improprieties related to the handling of season-ticket deposits by the team under the ownership of Dan Snyder. The team, now owned by a group led by Josh Harris, cooperated with the attorney general’s office and conducted its own internal investigation.
Attorney General Jason Miyares stated that the prior ownership of the Commanders unlawfully retained security deposits that should have been returned to consumers. The team must now refund all remaining security deposits on dormant accounts or remit them to state unclaimed property departments as per state law. Additionally, they are required to refund security deposits on file within 30 days of contract expiration.
The investigation found that Washington had unlawfully kept significant amounts of security deposits and imposed additional conditions on consumers seeking refunds. Despite sending form letters to former season-ticket holders in 2014, the team failed to remit any unclaimed security deposits to state unclaimed property offices until at least 2023.
As part of the settlement, the Commanders must pay $600,000 in civil penalties and $100,000 to the attorney general’s office for fees and investigation costs. The team expressed satisfaction with the resolution under the current ownership and emphasized their commitment to rectifying the consumer harm identified.
This settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in handling consumer transactions, especially in the sports industry where fan loyalty and trust are paramount. It highlights the consequences of failing to adhere to regulations and the significance of addressing consumer grievances promptly and fairly in business operations.
