The Washington Commanders are one step closer to potentially returning to their former home in the nation’s capital, as a provision to transfer the land of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia has been included in Congress’ short-term spending bill, which lawmakers are urgently working to pass.
This development marks a significant victory for the organization and the NFL, following lobbying efforts by controlling owner Josh Harris and Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act earlier this month.
Mayor Muriel Bowser hailed the provision as a “giant step forward” in unlocking the site’s potential. “As a city, we have worked for years to gain control of the RFK campus,” Bowser stated. “We’re celebrating this moment and looking toward a future filled with possibilities on the banks of the Anacostia,” with a new football stadium being a prominent option.
The Commanders are exploring potential stadium sites in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. Their current lease at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, extends through 2027, with Harris identifying 2030 as a “reasonable target” for a new stadium. The team played at RFK Stadium, located just two miles east of the Capitol, from 1961 until 1996 before relocating to Maryland. Harris and several co-owners, including Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, have strong ties to the franchise’s history during its successful era, which saw three Super Bowl championships from 1982 to 1991.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) praised the legislative move as a demonstration of Congress fulfilling its oversight role in the district. “This landmark legislation will unlock the district’s full potential, generate meaningful new jobs, and add millions in additional city revenue for the nation’s capital,” Comer said in a statement. He emphasized that without Congressional action, the land would remain vacant, imposing ongoing maintenance costs and liabilities on taxpayers. “Now is the time to empower local officials to clean up the RFK site, invest, and create new economic opportunities,” he added.
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