Commanders Given Green Light For Long-Awaited $3.8 Billion RFK Stadium Return

The Washington, D.C., City Council approved a construction plan that will rebuild the stadium on the former RFK Stadium site, allowing the Washington Commanders to return to playing in the city metro area for the first time since 1996.

The council passed the proposed $3.8 billion project by an 11-2 vote on Wednesday. The project includes the construction of a new 65,000-seat arena. In addition, more green space, housing and a sports complex will be built on the site. The Commanders hope to move in by 2030, 34 years after their last game played in the metro area.

“It is with great pride that I can say we are officially bringing our Commanders home and turning 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia, on the monumental axis, into jobs and opportunity for D.C. residents,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said after the vote. “This will be the largest economic development project in D.C. history.”

RFK Stadium opened in 1961 and hosted multiple sports teams, including the Commanders, MLS side DC United and baseball teams such as the Washington Senators and Washington Nationals. In 1997, the Commanders moved out of the arena and relocated to the now Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, five miles east of the nation’s capital.

While at RFK, the Commanders won all three of their championships in a nine-year span between 1982 and 1991.

“Today is a historic day for D.C., the Commanders organization, and our fans,” team owner Josh Harris said. “With the Council’s approval, we can now move forward on the transformative RFK project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and collaboration between Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, the Council and the countless community, business and labor leaders whose voices and input helped shape the process every step of the way.”