Josh Harris talks future Comanders stadium sites, Dan Quinn impact, season expectations

You've got your head coach, you got your GM, what's the, the next big thing for you guys? So, obviously, the next big thing for us is, uh, we got, uh, obviously, I think people are aware that, uh, um, Jason is, uh, moving uh forward with his life, right? So we gotta go find our, our president. The fellow is gonna be gauging with the fans and, uh inviting them into our house and make them feel great. So that's, that's on the docket and on the agenda. But now, uh, comes the long build of trying to, you know, win, win championships, win Super Bowls. And so it takes a while, uh, and you just as a, as a owner, as a managing partner, you know, obviously you can't run, you can't kick, you can't pass. So it's all about, uh, getting the best people off the field. So you get the best people on the field and then slowly watching that ball, you might have been the kicker because you didn't have one for a few days. There we go. Uh, as, as the manager partner. What's your expectation for this franchise for this team this year? Yeah, so my expectation is we're gonna be better. Uh, we're gonna be uh way more competitive. Um, we're gonna finish games. Um, and, um, you know, I'm really excited to see Jaden and see what he does when he comes. He's really impressive so far, uh on every level. And so, uh, you know, I'm gonna be, uh my expectations are that you see a lot of improvement. Um, we're in a stadium. I know that you guys have talked about new stadiums. Um RFK, the fan base here. A lot of them want to go back to where the history was made and where you watched it being made of court. If, if the RFK bill doesn't pass in this session, you, are you willing to move on to Maryland, Virginia or would you say let's call the brakes a little bit, I'm still willing to wait. So I think what you gotta do is cope that in the lame duck session. Uh Nothing is really gonna happen to the presidential election. At least this is what I'm now, I'm being an amateur uh political pundit here. But, um, and so you have the lame duck session. Uh It appears to have bipartisan support and so hopefully, uh it'll get passed in uh in the session between uh the election in January when the new Senate co of president sworn in. If that doesn't happen, you have to see what the landscape is. I mean, it could be a totally changed political, a land. It, so let me defer that question until we see what's happening in Washington. Have you ranked your three jurisdiction? Can I ask that? Um Yeah, we, we have, um you know, obviously we've always said that, um you know, that RFK is the spiritual home of the commanders. We've always acknowledged that. Uh But at the same time, um you know, the, you know, the Maryland has been incredibly hospitable to us. Uh And so, um we, we've sort of been honest that uh we need to get, we need to really try uh in Washington and then, but also that uh we have to make sure we're um taking care of Maryland and Virginia at the same time and particularly in Maryland where we play right now and, you know, wes and his staff are, have been incredible. And so, um yeah, we're working through it all. Two things, two things you said in your, your press covers that struck me one was that the fan base, you know, they, they've literally shed tears to the right that they're so hopeful that this thing comes back for a guy who grew up here. You have, you got the NHL franchise NBA franchise? Is it different because of this franchise that when it moves to the kid Josh here? Well, look, I, I remember being eight years old and then, uh watching, watching the Washington football news to the Dolphin 14 7 on TV. I remember, uh my uh uncle Jerry Miller, uh had season tickets and we were walking into RFK. I, he would take me once a season or twice a season and hearing the stan shake. And so, yeah, I mean, I, I lived those memories. I remember when, uh Joe Gibbs there. I remember uh George all was over the Hill Gang and Billy Kilmer number 17, Teddy Jergenson and then all the way Joe's eyes went to the Sonny Mother. Happy birthday. That's right. Uh So look for me personally. Um Yeah, I did, I grew up with the franchise. Um and, and so it wa it is, there's an emotional aspect of it. The other thing you said, which struck me was NFL draft being held here. That's one of the goals you kind of in intimated that. Yes, we had a few little discussions about it. How cool would it be? What do you envision if that takes place or something? Yeah, I think, I mean, you guys saw what happened in Detroit, didn't you? And the crowds they had and just imagine all of the places you could do that in Washington. And he say, let your mind wander on that and it's exciting, right? And there's a lot of details to work out and obviously it's not up to us, it's up to the NFL and, um and we're hopeful that they see it the way that we see it, but I think it could be an amazing unifier for, uh, our city, the DMV, the country and, and the NFL and really benefit everyone. So II, I have a great vision of it and when it happens, I don't know, obviously, but I mean, I know that there's a lot of, um, people that wanted to have it. July 22nd, 2023. You told us we've got a lot of work to do. We got a GM, you got a head coach, the vibe that Dan Quinn is providing in camp. I've covered this franchise for the better part of three decades. I've not seen it like this, this, this is a different cat. He's a different guy. What are you getting from him? Yeah, like people are having fun, like he's a unifier, he's a culture builder and obviously we needed a culture builder. Uh, and he's been around football for a long time. Look, we ended up getting an amazing, uh, cadre of, uh, coaches, the play collars, uh, uh, uh, you know, cliff and, you know, an off the offense and Genia, uh, you know, Dan, you know, a lot of defense and talent, uh, from, from the Cowboys and other Blazers, right. Uh, and, uh, you know, a lot of people that had been hedge coaches or offensive defensive coordinators being willing to contribute. Right. And Dan is molding that into a unit and then they're bringing an incredible amount of talent and energy and expertise to the players themselves who are all having fun also being part of like, what is an incredible, uh, project, right? Where, um, you know, we had, um, 53 new faces out of 90. So that's a lot. That's unusual. So, um, that's, uh, very exciting for everyone and there's a real feeling of positivity. Last question, this entire stadium, you've made some renovations to it. You, I, the way I like the way you look at the stadium, by the way you're looking at, I love it. Right. I'm looking at all these, I gotta do you. I'm also, I mean, this is a beautiful night. It is a beautiful night. What do you want fans to come to this game? Because historically, over the last 15 years, they've walked away a lot of times, not only the product on the field, but the product in the state. Boy, what am I doing? I'm putting an arm and a leg and I'm, you know, I don't, it's not very fun anymore. What do you want them to come away feeling? So I want my job is to help the city watch and create memories. And I remember this has been so important to me throughout my whole life. And so I want everyone to have that feeling. And so, um, I want people to uh come here, I know that it's, uh, they've, they've had to get here, they've had to spend money to support the steam and I just wanna say that I want you to come here and have an amazing time with your kids, with your families, with your friends. Um You have some fun drink if you want to drink, probably be careful getting along and all that lot. Uh But uh this is about creating memories and I think this is about being part of the Washington community at large and the NBA at large, but we're all part of that. So, uh we need your help and uh you know, hold us accountable. Uh And, and this is just beginning like we're, I know we were walking around today looking at all the ginger, but this is gonna be an ongoing project. So I'm sorry, I have one more question here because that, that just that alone. I mean, this is, this is, you know, fans want, they want it now, they want it. Now this is for the long haul for you guys and it's gonna take a while to get done. What do you, I mean, how long do you think? And that's almost an unfair question but how or what? Just to, to turn the franchise around to be a, as you said, one of the elite, you know, how long you, how long do you envision that? Yeah, it's really hard to put a time rail on it. I think that hopefully, um you know, we, let's see how um Jane does this year. I hate to, you know, put so much pressure and such like real version. But um let's see how a lot of the new guys do. And um you know, let's like, I think you'll like, I think that we're gonna make progress this year. Let's see how much progress we make. And uh all I can tell everyone is that I wanted to have it as fast as possible, but I'm not willing to sacrifice quality on. Well, listen, uh it's a, it's a pleasure to talk to an owner who's available and transparent. Uh It's a little different around here. So thank you for your time. All right, with it, everyone. Come on, Dallas, this is a beautiful night and we, we wish you all were here and we got a good season ahead of us. Thank you DMB. Thank you, man. Appreciate it, man.