Harris’s $6 Billion Commanders Deal Supercharges Sports Empire

It was only two years ago that private equity titan Josh Harris appeared to be stepping back from deal-making, moving on after Marc Rowan was picked to succeed Leon Black atop Apollo Global Management Inc.

“It is time for me to start the next chapter of my career, where I will focus full-time on the platforms I’ve created outside of the firm,” Harris said at the time. That included his Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which he runs with Blackstone Inc. executive David Blitzer.

Yet when Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea FC went up for sale last year, Harris’s ...