PHOTOS: Commanders fans pack FedEx Field for jubilant post-sale pep rally

Jubilant Washington Commanders fans flocked to FedEx Field on Friday for a pep rally at stadium, the day after the record-breaking sale of the team was approved by NFL owners.

<p>The stadium was jam-packed with fans clad in their best burgundy and gold and team gear, eager to hear from new owners — including 76ers owner Josh Harris and LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson — <a href="https://wtop.com/washington-commanders/2023/07/watch-live-josh-harris-press-conference-at-fedex-field/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who gave a news conference</a> from FedEx Field Friday afternoon.</p>

1/7

(WTOP/Scott Gelman)

The stadium was jam-packed with fans clad in their best burgundy and gold and team gear, eager to hear from new owners — including 76ers owner Josh Harris and LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson — who gave a news conference from FedEx Field Friday afternoon.

$<div class="wtop-audio" id="wtop-audio-0c62d64e47e1b6cfb863c42a7077bcae" data-disable-preload="false"> <div class="wtop-audio-container "> <div class="wtop-audio__control"> <button class="wtop-audio__playToggle" role="button"> <span class="accessible-text">toggle audio on and off</span> <i class="fa fa-play" aria-hidden="true"></i> <i class="fa fa-pause" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--volume"> <i class="fa fa-volume-up wtop-audio__volume-level-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i> <label for="wtop-audio__volume-0c62d64e47e1b6cfb863c42a7077bcae" class="accessible-text">change volume</label> <input class="wtop-audio__volume" id="wtop-audio__volume-0c62d64e47e1b6cfb863c42a7077bcae" type="range" min="0" max="1" value="1" step="0.1"> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-wrapper"> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--wave"> <div class="wtop-audio-file" id="wtop-audio-0c62d64e47e1b6cfb863c42a7077bcae-wave" data-mp3-url="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/072123__fan_1.mp3?_=1" data-next-mp3-url=""></div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--download"> <a href="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/072123__fan_1.mp3?_=1" target="_blank" download> <span class="accessible-text">download audio</span> <i class="fa fa-download" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-captions"> Barbara J. Thomas: 'Ready to party'</div>  <script type="text/javascript"> $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); </script>  <p>WTOP found self-proclaimed “die-hard fan,” Barbara J. Thomas, waiting in line. “I’m looking for a new season. New expectations. I’m ready to party.”</p> <p>The first thing she wants the team to do: “Change the name,” she said emphatically.</p> <p>To what?</p> <p>“I don’t know,” she said. “But I don’t like the Commanders. My son calls them the Commodes.”</p> <p> </p>$ 2/7

(WTOP/Scott Gelman)

change volume

download audio

Barbara J. Thomas: 'Ready to party'

WTOP found self-proclaimed “die-hard fan,” Barbara J. Thomas, waiting in line. “I’m looking for a new season. New expectations. I’m ready to party.”

The first thing she wants the team to do: “Change the name,” she said emphatically.

To what?

“I don’t know,” she said. “But I don’t like the Commanders. My son calls them the Commodes.”

$<div class="wtop-audio" id="wtop-audio-8cbdb8693256b83a9e09f20df8a87d8f" data-disable-preload="false"> <div class="wtop-audio-container "> <div class="wtop-audio__control"> <button class="wtop-audio__playToggle" role="button"> <span class="accessible-text">toggle audio on and off</span> <i class="fa fa-play" aria-hidden="true"></i> <i class="fa fa-pause" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--volume"> <i class="fa fa-volume-up wtop-audio__volume-level-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i> <label for="wtop-audio__volume-8cbdb8693256b83a9e09f20df8a87d8f" class="accessible-text">change volume</label> <input class="wtop-audio__volume" id="wtop-audio__volume-8cbdb8693256b83a9e09f20df8a87d8f" type="range" min="0" max="1" value="1" step="0.1"> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-wrapper"> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--wave"> <div class="wtop-audio-file" id="wtop-audio-8cbdb8693256b83a9e09f20df8a87d8f-wave" data-mp3-url="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/072123_fan_2.mp3?_=2" data-next-mp3-url=""></div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--download"> <a href="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/072123_fan_2.mp3?_=2" target="_blank" download> <span class="accessible-text">download audio</span> <i class="fa fa-download" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-captions"> Super fan Steve Nash</div>  <script type="text/javascript"> $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); </script>  <p>Commanders super fan Jay Nash Jr. from Ahoskie, North Carolina, noted the size of the large crowd at Friday’s pep rally.</p> <p>“You see people that’s coming out who ain’t been out in years,” he said. “I see more people waiting in line for a pep rally, than I do some of the home games. ”</p> <p> </p>$ 3/7

(AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

change volume

download audio

Super fan Steve Nash

Commanders super fan Jay Nash Jr. from Ahoskie, North Carolina, noted the size of the large crowd at Friday’s pep rally.

“You see people that’s coming out who ain’t been out in years,” he said. “I see more people waiting in line for a pep rally, than I do some of the home games. ”

<p>The optimism over the new ownership has already translated into some sunny predictions for the team’s prospects next season.</p>
<p>Nash predicted the team would make the playoffs this year — and a Super Bowl victory within five years.</p>
<p> </p>

4/7

Washington Commanders fans pose for photos with cheerleaders during an NFL football pep rally, Friday, July 21, 2023, at FedEx Field . (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The optimism over the new ownership has already translated into some sunny predictions for the team’s prospects next season.

Nash predicted the team would make the playoffs this year — and a Super Bowl victory within five years.

<p>WTOP caught up with Commanders fan Andre Barnes outside the stadium after the news conference.</p>
<p>“I like what I hear. Winning is the priority, and I hope we keep going that way. Now we also got do something with the parking and the tailgating.”</p>
<p>What about a new stadium?</p>
<p>“Well, everybody wants to be in D.C., right?” said fan John King. “Everybody wants to go back to RFK. I mean, that’s where we won. Super Bowls. Why wouldn’t you want to go back to it?”</p>

5/7

(WTOP/Tadi Abedje)

WTOP caught up with Commanders fan Andre Barnes outside the stadium after the news conference.

“I like what I hear. Winning is the priority, and I hope we keep going that way. Now we also got do something with the parking and the tailgating.”

What about a new stadium?

“Well, everybody wants to be in D.C., right?” said fan John King. “Everybody wants to go back to RFK. I mean, that’s where we won. Super Bowls. Why wouldn’t you want to go back to it?”