The Washington Commanders’ plan for a new stadium in Washington, D.C., needs a recalibration.
The U.S. House of Representatives avoided a government shutdown by passing legislation that will extend funding into mid-March. However, the bill no longer includes language that would transfer control of the RFK campus in the nation’s capital from the federal government to the District.
The initial terms in a continuing resolution announced on Tuesday did include language that previously passed House and Senate committees, and would grant the District administrative control of the 174-acre campus for 99 years and allow D.C. to build a stadium along with commercial and community properties.
Even though hurdles remained to ensure a stadium project would be built on the site the NFL franchise called home for 35 years, the actions by the Commanders ownership group strongly suggested the franchise would seek to relocate from its current home in suburban Maryland.
Now, the chances of a new football stadium being built in Washington diminished unless the Commanders, led by managing partner Josh Harris, are willing to delay their stated timeline of opening a new stadium roughly by 2030.
Without a resolution before the end of this congressional session, the proposition must start from scratch after months of discussion if the District, federal government officials and the Commanders choose to begin anew.
Following the initial bipartisan agreement — passage for the RFK transfer was included in a continuing resolution designed to avoid a federal government shutdown — Republican politicians, including President-elect Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk, publicly criticized the terms on social media. Concerns were mainly about other aspects of the bill beyond the RFK matter, including the nation’s debt ceiling. However, inaccurate or misleading comments about taxpayer dollars involved with the transfer were included.
The District controls the RFK campus, which the Washington franchise called home from 1961 through 1996 before moving to Maryland’s Prince George’s County for another 14 years.
Under the current arrangement, the federal land is only eligible for building a stadium, and not commercial or community opportunities. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said a new 99-year timeframe would allow for necessary financing for a stadium project in conjunction with the Commanders. Estimations suggest that a stadium complex will exceed $2 billion.
Earlier Thursday, Bowser addressed criticisms during a news conference about refurbishing D.C.’s Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Capitals and Wizards. The RFK property, located by the Anacostia River, has been dormant for a decade.
“Our message is the same, that the transfer of the RFK site to the District removes blight from the nation’s capital,” Bowser said. “The legislation contains no federal funding for the transfer of the land. In fact, the legislation expressly prohibits the use of federal funds for the land.”
Even with control of the RFK site, the District must construct a financing plan, something members of the D.C. City Council previously rejected even before the $515 million committed to Capital One Arena. Those hurdles may have been easily cleared if given the chance to officially lure the Commanders.
The Commanders own the 200-acre property in Prince George’s County, which houses Northwest Stadium. Building a new stadium, regardless of location or perceived economic benefits, would replace arguably the league’s worst game day venue. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other state officials are eager to maintain the status of having two NFL teams, the Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, and work with Harris to build retail and commercial property in the connecting neighborhoods.
Moore and Harris signed a Memorandum of Understanding that specifies the franchise’s community and re-developmental responsibilities if the Commanders move to another property outside the state. That didn’t mean Moore would concede losing the Commanders.
“Our position on the stadium hasn’t changed,” the governor said in a statement released Tuesday. “We are not afraid of competition, and we believe that we can continue to build on decades of partnership with the team here in Maryland. We are confident that Landover is still the best and fastest path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.”
Moore’s press secretary reacted to the news on social media Friday night.
“Maryland is the fastest, easiest and best path for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders,” Moore’s press secretary Carter Elliott IV said.
Maryland is the fastest, easiest, and best path for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.
— Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) December 20, 2024
For Harris, who was raised in the nearby Maryland suburbs and has been a lifelong fan of the three-time Super Bowl-winning organization, the Landover location might be the only option if ownership seeks quick action. Spending political capital — having NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stump for the stadium on Capitol Hill, for example — wasn’t enough this round.
For nostalgia — and to satisfy numerous fans who remember the franchise’s glory days — the choice is the RFK site. That now requires patience, something Harris and his partners, including NBA legend Magic Johnson, might deem challenging after purchasing the franchise from Dan Snyder in July 2023 for $6.05 billion.
The Commanders will also look to build a modern practice facility to replace the current one in Northern Virginia, whether as part of a stadium project or separately. Virginia previously held stadium talks with Snyder but was considered a longshot before Thursday’s news.
Bowser worked with oversight committee chairman James Comer (R-KY) to pass legislation through the committee earlier this year. On Tuesday, Comer said, “Without Congressional action, this land would remain vacant, leaving ongoing maintenance costs and liabilities to burden the American taxpayer.”
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the bill after a lengthy delay, allowing for a vote on the Senate floor. Negotiations with Maryland’s Senate delegation for the continuing resolution to reach a vote included the federal government agreeing to fund the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and the D.C. government shifting F-16 fighter jets from its National Guard to Maryland.
The bridge funding remains in the revised bill, but the fighter jets transfer and the RFK campus measure were both removed. Asked what happens if the RFK portion of the continuing resolution fails, Bowser said, “I don’t know if there’s another path this session.”
At least for 2024, she was right.
(Photo: Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images)
