New Commanders Stadium
New RFK Stadium | |
 Conceptual rendering | |
  New Commanders Stadium Location within District of Columbia  New Commanders Stadium New Commanders Stadium (Chesapeake Bay)  New Commanders Stadium New Commanders Stadium (the United States) | |
| Address | 2400 East Capitol Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′24″N 76°58′19″W / 38.89000°N 76.97194°W |
| Public transit |
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| Owner | District of Columbia |
| Operator | Washington Commanders |
| Type | Multi-purpose stadium |
| Capacity | 65,000 |
| Acreage | 180 acres (73 ha) |
| Surface | TBA (covered roof) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2026 (planned) |
| Opened | 2030 (planned) |
| Construction cost | $3.7 billion |
| Tenants | |
| Washington Commanders (NFL) (c. 2030) | |
| Website | |
| OurRFK.DC.gov | |
New Commanders Stadium is a proposed domed multi-purpose stadium to be constructed in Washington, D.C. It is planned to have a capacity of 65,000 and will serve as the home field of the National Football League (NFL)'s Washington Commanders. New Commanders Stadium is planned to be located on the former site of RFK Stadium on East Capitol Street near the Anacostia River, which served as the team's home field from 1961 to 1996. The project is set to cost US$3.7 billion and will include housing and retail districts, with construction planned in 2026 for opening in 2030.
History
[edit]
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, located in Washington, D.C. on East Capitol Street near Kingman Island and the Anacostia River about 2 miles (3 km) east of the U.S. Capitol, has sat vacant since the soccer team D.C. United left for Audi Field in 2018. Demolition of RFK Stadium began in 2023.[1] On January 6, 2025, U.S. president Joe Biden signed the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act into law, transferring control of 180 acres of land surrounding the stadium from the federal government to the city government through a 99-year lease.[2] On April 15, 2025, a group of D.C. voters submitted a ballot to the Board of Elections seeking to pass a initiative that would prevent a new stadium from being built on the campus.[3] The initiative would amend zoning laws to designate the site as a special purpose zone and explicitly forbid any part from being used for a stadium or arena.[4]
On April 28, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced plans to build a 65,000-seat covered-roof stadium at the site to replace Northwest Stadium as the home venue of the Commanders.[5][6] The deal is pending approval by the D.C. Council, with a public hearing scheduled for July 2, 2025.[7]
Design
[edit]The project is set to cost US$3.7 billion with at least $2.7 billion being contributed by the Commanders, the largest private investment in D.C.'s history.[5][6] The District is to invest $1 billion in campus infrastructure such as new roads and parking garages, shops and restaurants, an additional Kingman Park residential district, and an indoor track and gymnastics sportsplex.[5][6] New Commanders Stadium is planned to have a covered roof, with the goal of hosting future Super Bowls and FIFA World Cup matches.[8] The stadium is set to break ground following the expected completion of RFK Stadium's demolition in 2026, with New Commanders Stadium expected to open in time for the 2030 NFL season.[9][5] Architects and construction firms to be determined at a future date.[5]
The stadium will be owned by the District of Columbia with the Commanders as its operators.[8][10] In addition to its main use for Commanders games and other sports, New Commanders Stadium will host a minimum of 200 other events annually such as music concerts and graduations.[8] The Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) playing at the stadium was also suggested as a possibility.[8] The Commanders will retain their corporate headquarters in College Park, Maryland, and training facility in Ashburn, Virginia.[5] It is unknown if the stadium will be named after Northwest Federal Credit Union, who sponsors their current home venue.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Flynn, Meagan (May 2, 2024). "RFK Stadium officially set to be demolished". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Biden signs RFK Stadium land bill into law, a step toward potential Commanders stadium in Washington". AP News. January 6, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ Gathright, Jenny (April 16, 2025). "D.C. activists launch ballot initiative for 'homes not stadiums' at RFK". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Homes Not Stadiums Legislative Text". Homes Not Stadiums. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Flynn, Meagan; Fortier, Sam; Jhabvala, Nicki; Maske, Mark; Munro, Dana; Weil, Martin (April 28, 2025). "D.C., Commanders announce $3.7B deal to move team to RFK Stadium site". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Keim, John (April 27, 2025). "Commanders, D.C. reach deal for new $4B stadium at RFK site". ESPN. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ District of Columbia Board of Elections (April 25, 2025). "Notice of Public Hearing - Receipt and Intent to Review Initiative Measure "Use of RFK Site for Homes Not Stadiums Act of 2025"". Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Jhabvala, Nicki; Maske, Mark (April 28, 2025). "Commanders' stadium plans could put D.C. in the Super Bowl mix". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "What's next for the RFK Stadium demolition". WTOP. February 6, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "Term Sheet For the Redevelopment of a Portion of the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Campus" (PDF). documentcloud.org. April 28, 2025. p. 8. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
External links
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