Building a Football Legacy with Daniel Snyder
When Daniel Snyder was young, he often spent Sundays at the football stadium. Along with his father, young Dan cheered for a Washington football victory. At this age, Dan learned a lot about the game of football. More importantly, he developed a passion for the sport that would carry him through the rest of his life.
Many children dream of football glory. Daniel Snyder would never find it donning pads and a helmet on the field. Driven and focused, Dan found other ways to make his football aspirations become a reality. With hard work and an entrepreneurial mindset, Dan was able to purchase his beloved football team in 1999.
Since his purchase, Dan Snyder has spent 20 seasons with the team. Under his leadership, there have been 27 Washington players in 53 Pro Bowl appearances. Nine of his players have been honored as All-Pro, and he has had 13 of his draft picks on the All-Rookie Team. More impressively, five Washington players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
To make sure his players get the best experience, Dan oversaw the transition of the annual Training Camp. In 2013, the training was shifted to Richmond, Virginia, at the Bon Secours Training Center. This updated setting gave his players access to the best equipment. The new location also gave fans more opportunities to visit and experience the training setup for themselves. In a three-week span, Dan facilitated 165,000 fans in the training facility. At this location, Dan made sure to reach out to the community in other ways. He has set up outreaches for youth football and cheerleading. He has also instigated educational training sessions on concussions.
Beyond training facilities, game day in Washington is exceptional. Situated in Landover, Maryland, FedEx Field is an inviting destination. With seating for 82,000, Dan has created an enticing venue. Dan allotted more than $100 million to make updates and improvements. There are high-speed escalators to help navigate the upper decks. The signage is fully updated. The concourse has been refreshed with 1,000 flat-screen televisions. The video boards were improved in 2010, and now each end zone has a massive, cutting-edge display to enhance the live viewing experience. For high-end visitors, Dan made sure that the Owner’s Club East and Owner’s Club West were unparalleled.
More fundamentally, Dan Snyder has also looked at the field’s logistics. Some investments have been less flashy but no less vital. Daniel directed improvements that added more stadium gates and created additional parking spaces. These investments in traffic flow have streamlined congestion, allowing guests to move more efficiently. Other less noticeable changes have included upgraded internet access, increased Red Zone Access to season ticket members and better mobile app functionality. These comprehensive updates reflect Dan’s attention to detail.
All of this has anchored Daniel Snyder’s commitment to the team and to the area. Despite conversations about the potential of moving the franchise, Dan resisted the pressure. Instead, in 2012, he announced that the team was committed to Virginia. He made a point to keep the corporate headquarters in Loudon County. Clearly, Dan and Washington Football are here to stay.
Other people in the league have taken note of Daniel Snyder’s success. Dan has taken an active role in the NFL, and he has served as a crucial leader during difficult years of turmoil and change. The league has recognized his leadership abilities by appointing Dan to a number of key committees. Currently, Dan is active on the Media Committee, Business Ventures Committee, International Committee and Stadium Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the Digital Media Committee, and he helps manage the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Hall of Fame Committee. He is also involved on the Board of Trustees.
While achieving success on the field, Dan Snyder takes time to pay it back. His commitment to the community is not just in name only, and Dan has spearheaded a variety of charitable endeavors. He created the Washington Charitable Foundation to support initiatives in education, health and wellness in the community. The foundation has hosted school workshops, literacy programs and other programs to support vulnerable youth. Most notably, under Dan’s leadership, the Loads of Love program has expanded dramatically, giving more children affected by homelessness or unstable home environments access to critical laundry facilities.
Other charitable activities have been directed at hurricane relief in Haiti, tsunami relief in Thailand, the Children’s National Hospital and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Dan has also worked to support social justice causes in the community. Additionally, during the pandemic, he made sizeable monetary donations and provided access to FedEx Field for testing.
For Daniel Snyder, football has always been the dream. With hard work and persistence, Dan Snyder’s reality has been so much more.