Washington Commanders Reach $4b Deal With Dc To Build New Stadium

The NFL’s Washington Commanders and nan District of Columbia person reached a preliminary $4 cardinal agreement to conception a caller stadium astatine nan tract of nan team’s erstwhile home, nan aged RFK Stadium. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, and nan squad announced nan woody Monday, April 28, though nan scheme will still require support from nan D.C. Council earlier proceeding.

“We are thrilled to invited nan Commanders backmost location to nan Sports Capital. We said that we could do it each — Commanders, housing, parkland space, recreation, retail, intermezo and much — and, together, that’s what we are delivering,” Bowser said.

What has been happening pinch nan RFK Stadium site?

The RFK Stadium site, presently undergoing a demolition process expected to return up to 2 years, has been nan taxable of statement since nan stadium closed successful 2017. Advocacy group “Homes Not Stadiums” pushed for nan onshore to beryllium utilized for affordable housing alternatively of a caller sports installation and earlier successful April launched a ballot inaugural aimed astatine blocking a stadium deal.

How did national authorities play a domiciled successful nan project?

Efforts to bring nan Commanders backmost to nan territory person progressive cardinal figures, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who lobbied Congress to pass legislation transferring power of nan RFK tract from nan national authorities to nan district. The authorities was signed into rule earlier this twelvemonth by erstwhile President Joe Biden.

What are nan financial position of this agreement?

Under nan projected deal, nan Commanders would put astatine slightest $2.7 billion toward nan upcoming stadium project, while nan territory would allocate astir $1.1 cardinal complete nan adjacent 8 years for some nan stadium and infrastructure improvements successful nan surrounding area, including nan redevelopment of a sportsplex, lodging and different venues nearby.

Why do nan Commanders want a caller stadium?

The Commanders’ hunt for different stadium tract accelerated aft a caller ownership group, led by Josh Harris, acquired nan team from erstwhile proprietor Dan Snyder successful July 2023. Sites successful Washington, Virginia and Maryland were besides nether consideration.

“Working hand-in-hand pinch District and organization leaders, we’re focused connected delivering an unthinkable location for our players and fans, creating a landmark venue that reflects nan pridefulness of our nation’s capital, and sparking a caller era of economical opportunity crossed nan DMV,” Harris said. “RFK was erstwhile a spot our fans loved, and opponents feared — we’re wished to make it that measurement again.”

What happens next?

The team’s existent lease astatine FedEx Field successful Landover, Maryland, runs done 2027. Harris antecedently indicated that 2030 is simply a “reasonable target” for nan opening of a caller stadium.