In April, the Washington Commanders announced their plans to return to Washington with a $2.7 billion development plan to build a new stadium at the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial (RFK) Stadium. The project aims to revitalize the area, bringing the Commanders back to their original home in Washington from their current site in Landover, Md.
The team’s Northwest Stadium lease ends in 2027, and, following the change in ownership from Dan Snyder to a Josh Harris-led group in 2023, a new stadium deal seemed highly likely following Mayor Muriel Bowser’s promise to bring the Commanders back to Washington.
While looking for a plot for the new stadium, the Harris Group repeatedly mentioned one location in interviews. RFK Stadium, home to the Commanders from 1961-1996, has been empty for nearly a decade. However, according to Axios DC, the RFK site will be converted to a 65,000-seat, covered-roof facility designed to host NFL games, NCAA Final Fours, FIFA World Cup matches, concerts, and other major events.
The Harris Group has agreed to contribute $2.7 billion to the project’s construction. The Group’s investment would be the largest private investment in the city’s history. Harris’s investment demonstrates his adherence to his promise to “make investments… to deliver for…Washington.” According to ESPN, Harris wants this project to be “the best stadium in the country when it’s built.”
On top of the Commanders’contribution, the city will invest $1 billion in infrastructure, including roads, parking, and retail spaces. The plan would have an incredible impact on the surrounding Ward 7 community. The redevelopment plan includes the construction of 2,000 housing units, restaurants, and more. The site will also have spaces for event gatherings along the Anacostia River.
The deal has faced scrutiny from residents of Ward 7 and the DC Council, which has yet to vote on the proposal. A public hearing is scheduled for July 2. WTOP News reported that some residents and members of the council expressed worries about the lack of other important infrastructure and the possible noise disturbances. Despite these complaints, Mayor Muriel Bowser has expressed strong support for the project, emphasizing its potential to revitalize the area and create jobs.
If the proposal passes the DC Council vote, construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the stadium slated to open in time for the 2030 NFL season.
This proposal at the RFK site represents a significant investment from the Harris group in the future of the Commanders and the city. While the project has critics, it could represent more than just a new venue; it could mean the economic revitalization of one of Washington’s historically poorest wards and the return of the Commanders to a site they played on for decades prior. As discussions and negotiations continue, the outcome has the chance to shape the future of not only the Commanders but the entire Washington community.
