Washington Commanders to Build New Stadium at RFK Site

The Washington Commanders are moving back to the site of their glory days, as the team has announced its new stadium will be built on the RFK campus.

The Commanders and Mayor Muriel Bowser announced their deal Monday to construct a new home for the football team in the city at the site the old RFK Stadium, the place the franchise called home for more than three decades. It would open in 2030, with groundbreaking expected next year, pending D.C. City Council approval.

The approximately 65,000-seat stadium will occupy only 11 percent of the site, which would entail 180 acres. The team’s plans for the transformation of the campus includes housing, parks and recreation, hotels, restaurants, retail and neighborhood amenities.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the sports capital,” said Bowser. “WWe said that we could do it all — Commanders, housing, park space, recreation, retail, entertainment and more — and, together, that’s what we are delivering,”

Under the terms of the deal, the Commanders will drive the investment of at least $2.7 billion to build a roofed stadium that can be used year-round. DC Government will invest $500 million for stadium costs from the Sports Facilities Fee. The District will facilitate parking development using a $175 million revenue bond, which will be funded by in-stadium activity once the stadium is operating.

Events DC will contribute up to $181 million for parking garages near the community recreation facilities, which Events DC will own. Additionally, the District will invest $202 million for utilities infrastructure, roadways and a transit study.

“Today is a defining moment for the DMV and the Washington Commanders,” said Josh Harris, managing partner of the Washington Commanders. “RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history — it’s where the team dominated the NFL, capturing three Super Bowls and creating unforgettable memories for fans. Now, we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by building a new world-class stadium — one that is also a once-in-a-generation catalyst for uplifting and transforming our region.”

In addition to building the stadium, the Commanders will be responsible for activating and developing multiple parcels of land around the stadium. The entire campus is expected to create approximately 5,000-6,000 housing units, including at least 30 percent affordable housing.

The team played at RFK Stadium from 1961-96 before moving to Landover, Maryland,in 1997. The Commanders’ lease at Northwest Stadium runs through 2027.

Commanders ownership has been considering places in Washington, Maryland and Virginia since buying the team from Dan Snyder in 2022. The most recent progress came when congress passed a bill transferring the RFK Stadium land to D.C. that was signed by former President Joe Biden in early January, after lobbying on Capitol Hill by Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell late last year.