WASHINGTON — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Josh Harris, the controlling owner of the Washington Commanders, convened with congressional representatives on Monday at the U.S. Capitol, as discussions continue to facilitate access to the RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Goodell and Harris engaged in discussions concerning the RFK Stadium initiative among other pressing topics. The individuals, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that their meeting on Capitol Hill was not publicized in advance.
Among the issues discussed were safety concerns related to drones during game days. The discussions involved key congressional leaders including incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Goodell opted to remain in the area following the Commanders’ game on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, held at the aging facility in Landover, Maryland. Further progress on legislative efforts was made last month when the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, forwarding it to the entire Senate for a vote. Should it pass and eventually receive presidential approval, this legislation would transfer oversight of the RFK Stadium site and adjacent lands—located less than two miles east of the Capitol—to the D.C. government for a 99-year term.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton from D.C. praised the initiative, labeling it a “win-win” for both the federal and local governments and foreseeing a transformation of the area from “acres of asphalt to a hub centered on community sports, recreation, and cultural engagement.”
James Comer (R-Ky.), who has been a proponent for progress in establishing a new stadium deal, pointed out that this move could stimulate job creation, generate substantial new revenue for the city, and revitalize the currently vacant RFK waterfront into an engaging destination for everyone.
While it is still uncertain if the Commanders will ultimately construct a new stadium at the RFK site, this agreement marks a significant milestone in their intention to return to what was once their home from 1961 until 1996.
“The Commanders have been fortunate to have interest from three remarkable jurisdictions as we look for a new home and stadium,” stated a representative from the team. “This vote brings us one step closer to continuing dialogue with D.C., along with Maryland and Virginia, as potential locations for our franchise.”
Potential sites in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are still under consideration for the new stadium, a pursuit that has been underway long before Harris’ group acquired the franchise from the previous owner, Dan Snyder, last year for a record $6.05 billion in North American professional sports.
Harris and many of his fellow owners, such as Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, have strong ties to the area, having been fans of the team during its tenure at RFK when it celebrated multiple Super Bowl victories in the 1980s and early 1990s.
After rebranding as the Commanders — following a brief period as the Washington Football Team prompted by calls for change from sponsors and advocacy groups in 2020 — Harris now oversees the revitalization efforts. While discussions about another name change have arisen, Harris has confirmed that the previous name is unlikely to be reinstated.
Senator Steve Daines (R-Mon.) voiced his controversial stance last summer regarding the RFK Stadium legislation, threatening to block it until the team and the NFL honored the historic Indian head logo created by a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Recently, Daines expressed his approval, indicating that productive negotiations occurred with the NFL and the Commanders about incorporating the logo in some capacity to support Native American causes and to feature it on future merchandise.
