Earlier this year, it appeared the Washington Commanders would be building their new stadium somewhere in Virginia. Whether it was in Loudoun County, where the team is currently headquartered, or Prince William County, where the team acquired some land, the passage of a Virginia stadium bill seemed likely.
However, a lot has happened over the last several months. Owner Daniel Snyder has been accused of misconduct, and he and the team are currently under multiple investigations.
In addition to the NFL investigations, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform recently requested Snyder and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appear before Congress later this month.
Multiple Virginia lawmakers have spoken publicly about pulling their support for a potential new stadium in Virginia in the past three weeks. Three state senators have gone on record to state they will vote “no” to the state giving the NFL franchise $300 million toward a new stadium.
Now, a new report from A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports says the passage of a new Commanders stadium bill in Virginia is “increasingly unlikely.”
Perez wrote the following in Wednesday’s report:
Lobbyists working on behalf of the Washington Commanders have been “counting votes” among Virginia lawmakers this week, sources with knowledge of the situation told Front Office Sports.
Sources told FOS that the count appears to show there isn’t enough support to ensure passage of the bill that would create the Virginia Football Stadium Authority, a body that would help determine the best spot for the $3 billion domed stadium project.
The final bill has been negotiated in private among a six-member conference committee composed of three state senators and three state delegates since March.
“If the conference [committee] can’t come to an agreement, it dies a quiet death,” the source told FOS.
Before Perez’s report, Senator Jeremy McPike, representing Virginia’s 29th district, took to Twitter after Jack Del Rio’s comments regarding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and reaffirmed his “no” vote.
Yup. Just sealed the deal to cast my vote as a NO. I think what’s burning down today is the stadium bill. #Commanders https://t.co/ay2eATAqh7
— Jeremy McPike
(@JeremyMcPike) June 8, 2022
It sounds like McPike has enjoyed the past few weeks in the spotlight, making multiple appearances on sports radio stations in the Washington area. McPike has already established he was voting against the stadium bill.
Where does this leave the Commanders in their bid for a new stadium? Well, first, they need to find a location. Team president Jason Wright continues to have his hands full.
Del Rio’s comments, whether you agreed or disagreed, should have no bearing on whether or not one votes to approve a stadium bill. In the long run, Del Rio is a short-term figure in the franchise’s history. It sounded like an opportunity for a politician to get some more air-time.
Unfortunately, like most things, the stadium bill has become a political issue. If Virginia doesn’t want to give money to the NFL team for a new stadium, that’s understandable. However, the vote should come down to what’s best for the Commonwealth, not one side or the other.