Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is worried that the Washington Commanders’ planned stadium return to the capital could collapse.
“I would put my level of concern – because when you’re a big city mayor you’re concerned about everything – I’ll put it at a four (out of five),” Bowser said.
The Commanders revealed on April 28 plans to move back to the site of RFK Memorial Stadium, where the team played from 1961-96. Owner Josh Harris and Bowser both want to bring the team back to D.C. but need approval from the D.C. Council since $1.1 billion in public funding would be required to complete the $3.8 billion project.
That’s where the problem lies — The Washington Post reported that four of the Council’s 13 members support the project. A vote cannot be passed without a majority, which would mean seven supporters.
Concerns largely revolve around the burden that would be created by the heavy public investment, as well as the value of the land at the RFK site that would essentially be handed over to the Commanders for free.
“It’s a real contrast that we are focused on subsidizing a billionaire at a time when residents will be suffering as a result of these budget cuts,” said Ed Lazere, a member of No Billionaire’s Playground Coalition.
Despite criticism, Bowser believes that everyone invested in the proposal has a common goal.
“I’m concerned right now that everybody buckle down and get to work,” Bowser said on The Team 980 with Kevin Sheehan on Tuesday. “I’m not concerned about our deal. Our deal is solid. It pays off for D.C. And at the end of the day, I think everybody wants the same thing.”
The Commanders had hoped to open their new stadium in 2030, just in time for Jayden Daniels’ seventh season and the 2031 Women’s World Cup being held in the United States and Mexico.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was present for the Commanders’ unveiling of their stadium plans, also said their chances of hosting a Super Bowl “dramatically” increased with a new stadium.
The exclusive negotiating window for stadium plans will expire on July 15. The D.C. Council plans to host public hearings regarding the stadium on July 29-30, suggesting that they aren’t rushing to make anything happen. The Council will also recess from August until the 2025 NFL season is in progress in mid-September.
“We have that window of opportunity to move forward immediately, and we need to do that now, and so that’s how we think about it,” Commanders Vice President of Real Estate, Andy VanHorn, said during a recent panel discussion. “If we wait another six months, that adds risk to everything, whether you hire somebody later, whether the project goes later, that’s all kind of difficult for us to manage.”
Fox 5 Washington DC reported on Tuesday that Council Chairman Phil Mendelson caught wind of a potential Plan B that could be used if D.C. officials fail to approve the stadium proposal.
Allegedly, the plan involves seeking help from President Donald Trump and members of Congress. Although Trump has not been involved in the process thus far, he publicly supported the team’s plans to return to D.C.
“I am thrilled to announce that the Washington Football Team will be returning to our Nation’s Capital!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on April 28. “The new Stadium Deal is a HUGE WIN for Washington, D.C., and for the Team’s incredible fan base.
“It will also boost Economic Development, create more Jobs and, hopefully, lead to less Crime in the area. We are making Washington, D.C., GREAT AGAIN, one step at a time!”
Trump’s rumored future involvement comes after Mendelson separated the stadium deal from the 2026 budget process. He also suggested that a vote would not come until after the upcoming recess but affirmed that he would work with the Commanders to get a vote as quickly as possible.
“The Washington Commanders are committed to working with the Council around the clock to keep this project on schedule and deliver a world-class stadium for the District by 2030,” a team spokesperson said. “This is about more than just a stadium: it’s an investment in families, local workers, and long-term economic opportunity that will transform this community, District, and the region.”
Plans for the new stadium include a roof, $2.7 billion in private investment, an $89 million SportsPlex facility for children, and hosting capabilities for 40 major events and 200 activation events annually. Parks and greenery would also cover at least 30 percent of the campus.
The project was estimated to create 5,000-6,000 new homes, along with 2,000 permanent and 14,000 construction jobs. Developers also projected $15.6 billion in direct spending, which could provide a major boost to the D.C. economy.
The Commanders moved from RFK Stadium to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landover, Maryland in 1997. The stadium was renamed FedEx Field in 1999, which stood until 2024 when it was rebranded as Northwest Stadium.
Several locations in Virginia and Maryland have been floated as potential landing spots for the Commanders if they can’t agree on a deal to return to D.C.
