Commanders sell out Week 1 home opener matchup with Cardinals

Washington fans are ready to ring in a new era in the NFL. The Commanders sold out their season-opening game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 10.

On Friday, the Commanders announced that their home opener against the Cardinals at FedEx Field was sold out. The capacity at the venue is listed at 67,617.

Perhaps a sellout for an NFL game isn’t typically the biggest story, but the news comes after Dan Snyder and his family sold the organization. Josh Harris and his ownership group purchased the franchise for $6 billion.

Enough said.#HTTC pic.twitter.com/6zd9vJwK0n

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 1, 2023

Washington is coming off an 8-8-1 season in 2022, missing out on the playoffs for a second-straight season. The Commanders have reached the postseason just once since 2016, making an appearance in 2020.

Snyder was one of the most unpopular owners in all of professional sports. Fans were ready to see the family sell the organization. After the transaction was finalized, more buzz surrounded the Commanders.

It’s a new era in Washington and there’s now more support for the Commanders. It’ll be interesting to track attendance at FedEx Field throughout the course of the 2023 regular season.

Josh Harris already popular among Commanders fans

Immediately after purchasing the team, Harris become a popular figure in Washington. It wasn’t necessarily hard to beat out Snyder in terms of that category.

But Harris boosted his popularity among fans. In July, he decided to purchase 1,000 beers for fans during a radio interview. Yep, that’s a good way to win over a fanbase.

Harris celebrated the deal by calling into the Grant and Danny radio show in D.C., announcing he would buy beers for all fans in attendance at the “Burgundy and Sold” Bullpen party Thursday night, per Sports Illustrated.

“Let’s go,” Harris said, via Awful Announcing. “I’m just leaving the league meeting, and I knew there was a party and a bunch of Washington fans there. I’m super pumped. It’s a great day for Washington football and I’m ready to get to work. I’m heading your way. I want to get to Washington, my hometown, and celebrate with you guys. Let’s get started by me buying everyone in the brewery and The Bullpen a beer. Can we do that?

“I’m gonna have to dip into my savings, but I want everyone to have a beer. Let’s do it.”

That’s a good way to make a splash with the locals as a new team owner.