Less than a week after rumors were reported last week about a deal between the Commanders and the D.C. City Council being ‘close’, it’s been made official that the Washington Commanders are going to be returning to the District to play NFL football in Washington, D.C. once more!
The now officially signed deal highlights a new $4B stadium on the site of the current RFK Stadium by 2030, which has recently started its demolition after years of sitting empty and decaying.
When and where will the new Commanders Stadium open?
The Commanders’ future stadium in the District will be on the same location as their previous home in Washington, D.C. – on the site of RFK Stadium.
While RFK Stadium just began its demolition in January of this year, although it was originally meant to be demolished years ago, the demolition is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
Per the deal, the new Commanders Stadium is expected to be completed in time for the 2030 NFL season, a quick timeline which has allegedly sparked some concern amongst D.C. council members.
Who is paying for the new Commanders Stadium?
The majority of the new stadium’s $4,000,000,000 price tag would be covered by the Washington Commanders themselves, paying for roughly 63% of the cost, around $2.5 billion.
The remainder of the stadium’s cost would fall on Washington, D.C.’s taxpayer funds, over $1 billion over the next 5 years.
The initial projection is that the deal would ultimately generate around $4 billion in tax revenue in the years following completion.
What is the new Commanders Stadium going to look like?
The new stadium, according to renderings shared by the Mayor’s office, the stadium would feature a glass dome that would allow for the Capitol to be visible in the distance!
Can the new Commanders Stadium deal still fall through?
Ultimately, yes, for the deal to move forward, the District’s City Council will need to convene and a majority of the council (7 out of 12 members) will need to vote yes for the deal to move forward.
If the City Council rejects Mayor Bowser’s deal proposal, even though it has the financial backing of the Commanders, then the stadium project could fall through.