DC, Washington Commanders Announce $3.7B Stadium Deal

For the first time in three decades, the Washington Commanders could soon have a home in the nation’s capital.

The Washington Commanders and D.C. officials reached a $3.7 billion deal to transform the deteriorating 177-acre RFK Stadium site into a mixed-use district anchored by a 65,000-seat covered stadium, the Washington Post reported. The two sides announced the agreement on Monday.

The waterfront project represents one of the largest urban redevelopment opportunities in D.C.’s recent history. Under the agreement, the Commanders — under owner Josh Harris — will invest $2.7 billion in the development, while D.C. taxpayers will contribute $1 billion for infrastructure, parking facilities and utilities.

Harris, a native of nearby Chevy Chase, referred to the project as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity … for long-term transformational economic growth here in D.C.”

Beyond the stadium, the master plan for the site includes several districts featuring retail, entertainment and approximately 5,000 to 6,000 housing units, with 30 percent designated as affordable housing. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the project as creating a new neighborhood on underutilized land.

The development faces significant hurdles before breaking ground. The D.C. Council must approve the deal by July for the team to meet its 2030 opening target. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has expressed opposition to public financing, while some council members supposedly expected taxpayer costs to be “much, much smaller.”

The public financing structure includes extending a business tax created for Nationals Park that was scheduled to expire in 2026. This “Sports Facilities Fee” extension could face resistance from business groups ready for the tax to sunset.

There’s also community opposition. One group is gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to block stadium construction, while another has formed a “No Billionaire’s Playground” coalition. Critics question the $1 billion public investment amid D.C.’s projected $1 billion operating budget shortfall, though Bowser has worked to distinguish the two.

If approved, construction would begin in 2026, with the stadium opening for the 2030 NFL season. The stadium would likely increase D.C.’s chances of hosting a future Super Bowl, according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who attended Monday’s announcement.

As for Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, state officials are looking to redevelop the site into an entertainment district.

— Holden Walter-Warner