Maybe next year
The Washington Commanders have been working for almost two years to get a bill passed in Congress that would allow the transfer of the administration of the land where RFK Stadium stands, to allow it to be developed into a new stadium. The team wants to return to Washington, D.C. but there are layers upon layers of complications that start at the federal level, and work their ways down to the city level. The team is obligated to play their home games at Northwest Stadium(formerly FedEx Field) until the beginning of September, 2027. The team was targeting 2030 for the opening of a new stadium, but that timeline got more complicated over the last few days.
Quick timeline (can post links to our coverage if you want more info).
Early 2023 – Supporters start lobbying Congress
July 27, 2023 – James Comer introduces bill in House
Feb. 28, 2024 – Bill passes House 348-55
May 13, 2024 – Steve Daines vows to block bill in a Senate… https://t.co/Rk8wa3N75x
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) December 19, 2024
After months of resistance from Montana Sen. Steve Daines over the honoring of the team’s old logo, and the logo’s creator, the bill cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and was attached to the Senates budget bill that had to be passed by midnight tonight. That bill looked like it was heading to a vote, but that was stopped by an online campaign led by Elon Musk that tanked any chances that version of the bill would pass. It was tried again, and failed to pass yesterday. The newest, trimmed down version passed overwhelmingly tonight, avoiding a government shutdown, but didn’t include the land transfer to D.C.
With that, bill giving DC long term control of RFK site & right to negotiate stadium deal/Commanders return to DC, dies.
48 hours after Mayor and RFK proponents celebrated what appeared to be a sure victory.
Josh Harris now faces decision about whether to try again or move on. https://t.co/X401kcaV0S
— Eric Flack (@EricFlackTV) December 20, 2024
Governor Wes Moore’s press secretary reacts to the lack of the RFK provision in the federal spending package: https://t.co/FIw1ggURd0
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) December 20, 2024
The Washington Commanders also received resistance from the senators and governor of Maryland, where the current stadium is located. They slowed down the process by negotiating for their interests(fighter jets, bridge reconstruction funds), and they secured a commitment from team ownership to tear down the old stadium, and redevelop the area. They still want Washington to stay in Maryland, and have finally worked on committing funds to improve the infrastructure around the old stadium. Washington owns the stadium, and the land around it, and could construct their new stadium there.
Josh Harris and his fellow owners will now have to decide whether they want to continue pursuing the RFK site, or move on to other locations that aren’t as complicated. If they are set on returning to Washington, D.C., they will have to wait until the new Congress starts next month, and start all over with the legislature and a new government. They were talking to Virginia as well, but that has been considered an extreme longshot for many reasons.