Commanders stadium project wins support from D.C. Council chair
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Council Chair Phil Mendelson. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Council Chair Phil Mendelson says he believes the Washington Commanders football stadium project will get approved in the D.C. Council.
Why it matters: Mendelson can make or break the deal — and after initially opposing public stadium subsidies, he's leaning toward making it happen.
What he's saying: "We will reach a deal. I do think the deal can be approved," he told WTOP.
- "I do think there will be some public subsidy," Mendelson acknowledged.
- But Mayor Muriel Bowser's negotiated deal with the Commanders for $1.1 billion in taxpayer subsidies for the RFK Stadium site "can be improved," he added.
Between the lines: Mendelson's come a long way on this project.
- He wanted Congress to ban even the thought of a football stadium at the RFK site in 2022.
- Last month, he retreated to opposing public subsidies: "The D.C. treasury should not be paying toward a stadium," he told the Washington Post.
- Now the council member who voted against Nats Park five times in 2004 is optimistic he'll help the Commanders get back to RFK.
That's despite his "personal view that we should not use public tax dollars," which he told WTOP is "not the majority view" on the council.
- The council should "do our due diligence, scrutinize the proposal and make sure it's the best deal possible for the District and for the taxpayers," he said.
What we're watching: It looks unlikely the Commanders deal will get approved by July 15, as the mayor hoped.
- Once the D.C. Council gets the mayor's delayed budget in the coming weeks, Mendelson and lawmakers can get serious about scrutinizing the RFK project terms and making tweaks.
The bottom line: It's increasingly likely the council will get to seven votes on the stadium deal, but expect negotiations to drag on this summer.