President Joe Biden has officially enacted legislation on Monday, facilitating the transfer of the land encompassing the old RFK Stadium from federal to local authority. This critical move may set the stage for the possible return of the NFL’s Washington Commanders to Washington, D.C.
By granting the District of Columbia control over the property for the next 99 years, the dilapidated stadium can be demolished, allowing for redevelopment that could introduce numerous possibilities, including a new football stadium along with various entertainment venues at the franchise’s previous location.
During the signing of the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, owners Josh Harris, Mitch Rales, and Mark Ein, along with Mayor Muriel Bowser, were present in the Oval Office behind Biden. The Commanders expressed in a statement that this legislative progress represents a significant victory for the city and its citizens.
“Washington can finally advance with a renewed vision for the RFK site,” the statement read. “We eagerly anticipate participating in that dialogue as we consider a future venue for the Washington Commanders.”
Mayor Bowser hailed the occasion as a result of “years of dedicated and strategic advocacy, remarkable teamwork, and bipartisan leadership.” She remarked, “Today is a great day for D.C. as we take control over our destiny regarding the RFK campus. We are enthusiastic about realizing the full potential of this area, which spans over 170 acres, allowing for a myriad of developments — including housing, economic balance, green spaces, recreation, and sports.”
The resolution navigated through Congress in the early hours of December 21, right before the holiday break, having been extracted from the year-end expenditure bill in a twist that nearly derailed the efforts of Bowser and others over the preceding 18 months. Harris, the controlling owner, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, actively lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill to support this initiative in early December.
Yet, the Commanders’ return to D.C. is not guaranteed. The team is also contemplating other potential locations within the district, as well as Maryland and Virginia, for stadium construction in the years ahead.
Their current lease at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, remains valid until 2027, with Harris suggesting that 2030 could represent a “reasonable target” for the establishment of a new stadium.
The Commanders previously played at RFK Stadium, situated two miles east of the Capitol, from 1961 to 1996 before relocating to Maryland. Harris and some co-owners, like Rales and Ein, were raised as fans of Washington football during a period marked by the team’s triumphant three Super Bowl victories from 1982 to 1991.
