- The Washington Times - Thursday, July 27, 2023

Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, introduced legislation Thursday that could pave the way for a new Washington Commanders stadium to be built on the RFK Stadium site in the District.

The “D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act” would allow the construction of a mixed-use development site that could include the building of a stadium, recreation facilities or commercial and residential sites on the federally owned land. The legislation calls for the federal government to extend the lease of the land to the District for up to 99 years.

Thursday’s legislation — which has bipartisan support and is co-sponsored by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s non-voting member in the House — also comes a week after Josh Harris took over as owner of the Commanders. Building a new stadium is likely the team’s most pressing need — the Commanders’ lease at outdated and deteriorating FedEx Field expires in 2027.

“After discussing city initiatives with D.C. Mayor (Muriel) Bowser and other local stakeholders, it has become clear that addressing the deteriorating conditions at the RFK Memorial stadium site is a top economic priority for the city,” Comer, Kentucky Republican, said in a statement. “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which is long overdue legislation that will provide D.C. leaders the opportunity to revitalize the RFK stadium site.

“This legislation is set to pave the way for local officials to create meaningful new jobs, add millions in city revenue, and transform the Anacostia River waterfront into a lively destination for all.”

Though the legislation would enable the construction of a new stadium at RFK, there are still obstacles the team would face. The bill must pass Congress and be signed into law. The possibility of a new stadium has faced resistance from the D.C. Council, with several members voicing opposition to working with the scandal-plagued Commanders under (now former) owner Dan Snyder.

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, a past critic of Snyder, said in a statement that he supports Comer’s legislation, but raised questions over funding for the project. Mendelson also objected to the NFL’s decision to not release a full report of attorney Beth Wilkinson’s 2020-21 investigation into Snyder and the Commanders’ workplace misconduct, which the league said was done to protect the confidentiality of those who participated.

“Any development of the campus must come at the expense of private developers,” Mendelson said. “To expect otherwise would come at the expense of District schools, public housing, better roads, etc.” 

The Commanders and Harris are also expected to weigh stadium proposals from Maryland or Virginia.

While Comer introduced legislation Thursday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin attended the team’s practice in Ashburn. Youngkin, a Republican, has been a proponent of the Commanders building a stadium in his state, though the governor’s efforts have been stifled in recent years, as a proposed stadium legislation failed to even come to a vote last year. The Virginia Senate also rejected a proposal from Youngkin earlier this year that called for the state to commit $500,000 for a stadium study.

“Virginia is the best place to live, work, raise a family,” Youngkin said at Washington’s practice. “And it should be the best place to have a professional football team.”

In Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore has indicated he’s open to working with the Commanders. His predecessor, Republican Larry Hogan, signed a deal that called for the state to borrow up to $400 million to revamp the area around FedEx Field.

The Commanders’ sale to Harris figures to make working with the team more palatable for lawmakers and local officials in all three jurisdictions. Snyder and the ongoing workplace investigations into the Commanders have been cited by officials opposed to a stadium project for the team.

Since buying the Commanders, Harris has been asked about the possibility of a stadium at RFK, as well as his overall plans to find the franchise a new home. In Minnesota, where the NFL approved the sale, Harris told reporters that he understood that RFK is the “spiritual home” for many Commanders fans, but said there were other priorities that his ownership group had to address first before working on a new stadium.

At his introductory press conference a day later, Harris said he and his partners were focused on creating “great experiences” for fans. The group plans to renovate FedEx Field as they search for a new home, though few details have been released.

“As far as the stadium experience — long run — we would love to have a stadium where the opposing players fear to come, and our fans love to come and our players love to come and feel welcomed,” said Harris, who was a fan of the franchise as a boy. “That’s what I experienced at RFK. And whatever happens with the stadium, that’s the kind of stadium experience I want to create.”

Still, the legislation in Congress is significant. Bowser has long advocated for the Commanders to return to the nation’s capital, where the team played from 1937 to 1996 before moving to Landover, Maryland. And over the past year, Comer has embraced working with the city and Bowser to make such a return a realistic possibility.

On Thursday afternoon, Bowser announced the creation of the “DMPED Sports Team,” an initiative whose goal is to plan, coordinate and support sports in the District. The DMPED will commission a “DC Sports study” to “identify funding mechanisms to support the goal of mining, expanding and attracting sports” in the city, according to a release. 

Bowser, speaking from Nationals Park, said the District having control over the land would be a “major win” for the city. Bowser did not directly say whether she supported public funds supporting the Commanders’ stadium, telling reporters that she wanted to wait for the results of the city. 

Bowser also said that she met with Harris at City Hall on Wednesday, emphasizing there was “only one choice” for the Commanders’ next stadium. 

“We hope (the legislation) moves expeditiously through the process so that we can get to work,” Bowser said. 

The Commanders did not respond to a request for comment. 

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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