Brady PieperLawmakers in the District of Columbia are announcing an agreement to construct a new multipurpose complex, stadium and prospective home for the Washington Commanders.
The new agreement, announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser and team ownership, will kickstart a nearly $4 billion project on the old Robert F. Kennedy campus in East Washington, D.C. The project will redevelop the existing campus into a new multi-use sportsplex and return the team to its namesake city for the first time since 1996.
The new multi-use complex and stadium will be funded by a combination of private and public investments with Commanders ownership leading the funding efforts. The team is slated to invest $2.7 billion for the construction of a new roofed stadium capable of hosting year-round events.
The District of Columbia’s government (District) will facilitate $175 million in bond sales for parking development and contribute $500 million in existing sports facilities fees that were previously allocated to the Washington Nationals’ ballpark. The District will also invest more than $202 million for utilities, infrastructure and a public transit study.
Events DC, a quasi-public company responsible for conventions and sports authority in the city, will deliver approximately $181 million to build parking garages near future community recreation facilities.
Pending approval by the city council, the multi-use complex project is expected to break ground within the next year. With an estimated 65,000-person capacity, the new stadium would be open to fans as early as 2030.
The renewed RFK campus will feature a variety of improvements and new developments, including hotels, restaurants, retailers, parking, upgraded infrastructure and additional housing structures with dedicated affordable units.
In tandem with the new stadium, the District will construct a new youth sportsplex near the RFK campus that will host year-round events and youth tournaments in DC. The Mayor’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 earmarks $89 million for this additional facility.
Near the fields, the District will develop new housing, open space, mixed-use buildings and recreational spaces as part of the new Kingman Park District. As the new housing district is in the planning stage, District officials will pursue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on the Kingman Park District soon.
Team officials anticipate the complex and stadium project will generate 14,000 construction positions and 2,000 permanent jobs while collecting $4 billion in tax revenue and nearly $16 billion in direct spending over the agreement’s 30-year term.
The Commanders, formerly the Washington Redskins, have played in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for the better part of 30 years. The team’s ownership group, led by Josh Harris, purchased the team in 2023.
Team ownership anticipates the Commander’s relocation to the RFK campus will transform existing spaces and reflect successful sports investments of the past, including the renovations of Capital One Arena, Nationals Park and CareFirst Arena over the last 10 years.
In the meantime, the Commanders are expected to play in Maryland until the team’s lease at Northwest Stadium concludes in 2027, unless the term is extended by local and state governance.
Rendering Courtesy of D.C. Government
