And the Washington Commanders are poised to make their living room come to life again. They will be releasing plans for a new stadium to be built at the historic RFK Stadium site. This enormous undertaking, which is anticipated to take an initial $4 billion to completion, hopes to welcome its first guests by 2030. Josh Harris, who purchased the Commanders in July 2023, just made a definitive statement of loyalty to the region and the legendary building. Yet his connection to both is neither superficial nor contrived.
Harris, a Maryland native, has often reminisced about the days spent attending games at RFK Stadium, highlighting its importance to him and the franchise’s history. While welcoming the successful bidders, Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged the community’s fight against the prior ownership and its vision for the team’s future. She stressed the need to see a new tone during this new era under Harris’s leadership.
The Commanders are still playing home games at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. They’ll call it home through at least early in the 2027 season. Harris and his ownership partners are intent on establishing an atmosphere that marries the old school with the new school. They want to create a permanent, roofed stadium that would house more events year-round, including concerts and sporting events.
The new stadium’s expected financing will include approximately $505 million in mostly private funds with about $175 million of public funds included as well. The Commanders will take care of $2.7 billion of the construction costs themselves. Local and state public funds will make up the remaining $1.147 billion. The District of Columbia plans to spend at least $500 million on different projects on the site. Local government EventsDC, a local government entity, will kick in another $181 million. An additional $175 million will reportedly come from stadium-related development.
The shovels hitting the dirt on this new facility are not expected until 2026, with the hope of welcoming fans in this new building by 2030. Throughout all the discussions, Harris never fails to highlight the vision for his project. He wants to make the new stadium part of the community and keep the spirit of RFK Stadium alive by adding a modern touch.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has raised alarms about public money going to support a private enterprise. But he’s adamant that no public dollars should go to build the new stadium. The cost of that should not be born by the D.C. treasury, he said.
Local officials are understandably excited about the economic opportunities the project could bring. They want it to be the project that saves and strengthens the region’s economy. The new stadium will dramatically improve the in-game experience for fans. Beyond reconnecting communities, it will spur sustainable business development and attract millions of new visitors to the riverfront area surrounding RFK Stadium.
The Commanders have a rich history in Washington D.C., and Harris’s ownership marks a pivotal moment for fans who hope to see their team thrive in a new era. It would take a full infusion of public support and private investment to produce a facility that decouples luxuries from civic engagement and community spirit and pride.
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