Recently, the Washington Commanders revealed plans to build a new stadium at the RFK site in DC. This would move the Commanders back into DC after almost 30 years of being in Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. The stadium change is estimated to cost around $4 billion.
Almost a quarter of that will come from taxpayer dollars, which begs the question: is the new stadium worth it?
RFK Stadium was used by the Commanders, previously known as the Redskins, for over 30 seasons. From 1961-1997, the team played in the stadium and won three Super Bowls, marking a significant era in franchise history. The Commanders left RFK Stadium after previous owner, Jack Kent Cooke, wanted a newer stadium with more amenities like luxury boxes and suites. The franchise then moved to Northwest Stadium where they have resided for the past 25 seasons.
After reaching the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991, the Commanders have bounced back from previous doubtful seasons. With the addition of star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and a new coach, the Commanders seemingly changed overnight from being at the bottom of their division to becoming one of the best in the NFL. The Commanders winning record and the team’s transition of ownership caused a 20 percent spike in ticket sales in the 2024-2025 season from previous seasons before.
More fans became excited to go out and support their team, and soon calls to move the stadium back into the district grew louder and louder.
Lifelong Commanders fan, Stella Weeks, is excited that the team is moving back to the district. “I think it’s really great to have all of our major sports in DC now, I think it helps build a bigger community and a better atmosphere for DC sports,” she said. Washington sports have been on the rise in recent years, with the Washington Spirit winning the NWSL championship in 2021 and the Washington Capitals having a historic 2024-2025 season. The Commanders moving back to DC will locate them closer to the other sports teams in the area, along with better access to transportation via the metro which allows easy access for fans from NOVA.
The new stadium will feature more than 60,000 seats, a view of the Capitol, and a transparent glass roof. Images of the stadium have excited many, but also raises concerns about the cost.
The project to create the new stadium is funded by both the Commanders and the District of Columbia, with the Commanders paying for most of the cost at around $3 billion. The District of Columbia will pay just over one billion dollars, but most of that money will come from taxpayers. The cost of the new stadium will be the second largest taxpayer contribution to an NFL stadium in U.S history. The District of Columbia would pull money from various sources, like the capital budget and Events DC.
Once construction of the new stadium goes underway, it is aimed to be completed by 2030. This would put the Washington Commanders back in the district after 34 years.
