The Washington NFL franchise has spent the last 28 seasons playing at home in Maryland. The commanders currently call Northwest Stadium, previously Fedex Field, home.
The stadium opened on time for the 1997 season and is approximately 13 miles from the United States Capitol building in neighboring Washington, DC, the stadium replaced the iconic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial stadium (RFK Stadium). But, the outdoor place where the commanders have received opposite teams for almost the last three decades has deteriorated rapidly, which caused discussions about an eventual alternative.
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General view of the RFK stadium on May 24, 2005 during the first season of Washington nationals in Washington, DC. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Earlier this week, the mayor of DC, Muriel Bowser, met with the residents who live in the area surrounding the atyapped RFK stadium site to discuss the possibility of building a state -of -the -art building that could house the commanders of Washington. Bowser has long supported the impulse to take the football team back to the Columbia district.
“I firmly believe that in global cities, world -class cities like ours, we do great things,” Bowser told residents. “We have arts and culture, entertainment, nightlife and sports. We have excellent neighborhoods, and we can invite the world to our city. But the fact is that, until we have a modern stadium, we will not be able to organize events that the world is accustomed.”
Josh Harris of the commanders maintains that the name of the team is here to stay
The proposals estimate that the stadium structure could include up to 25 acres from the 174 ACRES site. A mixed use development with homes, restaurants and parks could occupy the remaining part of the Earth.
The city recently won control over the Earth Strip after years back to federal legislators. In December, the United States Senate approved a bipartisan resolution to transfer the Federal Government land to the federal government that would effectively rent the sidewalk to the city for 99 years.
“This is a victory for DC, for our region and for the United States,” Bowser wrote in his social media account after news about approval. “Everyone loves a good return story, and that is the story of Dc. #Ourrfk”
Mayor Muriel Bowser reveals plans for a new DC prison in Hill East, as well as a proposal for a new Sportscomplex at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial stadium site, photographed in Washington, DC on March 28, 2022. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post through Getty Images)
The then president of the United States. Uu. Joe Biden, the then president of the United States, Joe Biden, in January. The movement was seen as an important step towards commanders returning to the capital of the nation, although several obstacles remain.
On Thursday, Bowser emphasized the importance of building a world class stadium if the city wanted to become a viable host for concerts, Super Bowls and other important sporting events.
January 9, 2021; Landover, Maryland, USA; General view of Fedex Field before the game between the Washington football team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Brad Mills-USA Today Sports)
“Until we have a modern stadium, we will not be able to organize events that the world uses, including a World Cup, including a Super Bowl, and yes, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift,” Bowser said.
The mayor said she is committed to working with the commanders, since her goal is to convince the franchise that building a stadium within the boundaries of the city is the best alternative to her current home. Bowser also promised to reach the terms in an stadium agreement that would be beneficial for those who live in the community.
The main owner of the commanders, Josh Harris, has not made any public statement about his preferred stadium location, but acknowledged that the team could end up playing in DC, Maryland or the nearby Virginia.
The owner of the Washington commanders, Josh Harris, speaks at a press conference at the Park commanders in Ashburn, VA, on January 8, 2024. The conference was to announce that the commanders are separating from the chief coach Ron Rivera after a disappointing 4-13 season. (Craig Hudson for Washington Post through Getty Images)
The use of public funds to help finance a multi -million dollar stadium project often meets considerable setback. Bowser and city legislators will probably face strong winds against while presenting their components on the possible allocation of public dollars towards a stadium project.
At one point during his presentation of approximately 20 minutes on Thursday, Bowser made reference to a sports study that he commissioned that he estimated economic benefits exceeding $ 1 billion. Income would come from a mixed use development along with a modern NFL stage. Development could also create thousands of jobs.
Bowser did not stop at sharing details about the amount of public funds that would feel comfortable with the team he used. Instead, he pointed out that the “detailed analysis” of his administration determined that an NFL stadium would be a strong investment.
In addition to organizing a NFL team, the RFK stadium was home to two MLB teams, two university football teams and multiple professional football clubs. The stadium was also the site of several World Cup matches.
In the field, the commanders experienced a big change this season. Harris selected Dan Quinn as the next coach of the team last February, while Adam Peters was hired to handle the tasks of the general manager. The commanders selected the Marshal Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft last April. Daniels obtained rookie offensive honors of the year and helped take Washington to appear in the NFC championship game.
