D.C. approves $3.7 billion RFK Stadium project for Commanders
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Demolition has picked up at RFK Stadium, seen here in April. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The D.C. Council approved on Wednesday the $3.7 billion deal to build a new Commanders stadium at the former RFK Stadium site and kickstart development of a residential neighborhood.
Why it matters: The resurgent NFL team is coming back to the land of Super Bowl-winning seasons, generating new tax revenue and thousands of jobs at a time when the city is trying to rejuvenate its DOGE-battered economy.
Driving the news: Council members gave final approval after months of dramatic negotiations — including an incursion by President Trump.
- The District commits about $1 billion in public subsidies to demolish and prepare the RFK Stadium footprint.
- The Commanders franchise, purchased by Josh Harris in 2023, will pay $2.7 billion for a 65,000-seat domed stadium, meant to one day host a Super Bowl and dozens of non-sports events annually.
- The 190-acre site will include six districts, including the construction of 6,000 new homes, 30% of which will be designated as affordable housing. The D.C. Council estimates the city will draw $5 billion in tax revenue over 30 years.
- Down to the wire on Wednesday, council members secured new guarantees from the Commanders, including a written commitment to preserve heritage trees and aim for zero waste at the stadium.
What they're saying: "We can now move forward on the transformative RFK project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city," Harris said in a statement.
- Stadium's target opening: 2030.
Between the lines: Before Mayor Muriel Bowser could claim a legacy-defining achievement, the deal took intense lobbying to Congress and a Hail Mary vote last December to give D.C. long-term control over the federal property.
- "I want to thank my 'can't stop, won't stop, never quit' team at DC Government," Bowser said in a statement, and praised Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Republican House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer for their support.
Zoom in: Once-skeptical lawmakers like Charles Allen applauded the final deal's provisions, like a transportation improvement fund for a potential new Metro station nearby.
- "Those are very good investments," Allen said. "Now we can talk about a bigger vision for the growth of our city."
- Council members supported the project's commitment to union jobs, in addition to revitalizing an underinvested slice of Washington. The finished project will include a new public recreation facility and riverfront trail, a plaza district catering to stadium-goers, and mixed-use neighborhoods for new residents.
The other side: Only two council members voted against the deal.
- Council member Robert White, one of the opposing votes, failed to persuade colleagues to support last-minute changes that would have levied financial penalties on the Commanders for failing to build out the residential and commercial development surrounding the stadium.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
Go deeper: What the new RFK Stadium neighborhood will look like