The DMV area has seen the Washington NFL franchise play their home games at RFK (1961-1996), and Fed Ex Field 1997-currently. Where they will play next is the question.
“Well, we know when the team was the last winning team, and they played at RFK,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser confidently, referring to their last Super Bowl championship coming when the team still played at RFK, back in the 1991 season.
Bowser stated the site of RFK is ideal for the NFL Washington franchise to return to the city bearing its name. However, the plans for the three northern Virginia sites actually call for a 700,000 square foot 16-acre stadium as well as Indoor and Outdoor training facilities, team offices, a 14,000 seat Ampitheatre, hotels, a conference center, residential buildings and Mixed-Use retail, including night life.
Bowser when asked regarding the northern Virginia plans, countered noticeably expressing her vision, “It is important to us that that site have housing first, as we have been talking about. Housing, recreation, park space, and uh, sports, including an NFL stadium.”
She continued, insisting the only way it could happen in Washington is for the franchise to pay for the stadium.
Bowser in recent years had been adamant toward the Washington franchise, insisting they would need to change their name (dropping Redskins) before returning back to the city.
But now that they are the “Commanders” she was in a welcoming spirit Saturday, as long as the franchise pays for the stadium.
However, so much water has passed under the bridge, one can’t help but wonder, is it now too late for the city and its fans? Has the momentum perhaps shifted to move to Virginia? Might the fans in the city and Maryland one day have to wear the shoes northern Virginia fans have worn for decades, which required them to make the longer drive to see Washington home games?