Commanders unveil amenities, new food options

LANDOVER — It’s a new day for Washington Commanders fans. 

That was the message from team owner Josh Harris as his franchise hosted its first game at the newly renamed and renovated Commanders Field in Maryland. 

The slew of upgrades were the next step in Harris’ tenure as owner, and he has his eyes set on the future. The billionaire told reporters he hopes to host the NFL draft in the District before opening a new stadium in 2030. 

But on Sunday, the focus was on the much-maligned stadium previously known as FedEx Field, now rechristened Commanders Field.

Washington’s ownership group invested $75 million during the offseason to boost the fan experience at the facility.

Under former owner Dan Snyder, the underwhelming stadium regularly ranked among the worst in the league. The infamous reputation was exacerbated by reports of cold showers, leaking sewage and viral videos of collapsing stands. 

“I get really excited about fixing the place up for our fans. As I said when we bought the team, you’re inviting people into your house,” Harris said. “You don’t want to have an old couch, finishes that are crumbling and all that.”

The renovations focused on fan experiences. Harris and company funneled $10 million into the concession stands, adding 11 “frictionless” markets — unmanned areas that allow fans to move in and out to get basic food and drink without waiting in line for a cashier. 

Team officials said it took fans about 10 or 11 minutes to grab a beer and return to their seats last season. With the new markets, they aim to trim the trip down to 90 seconds in 2024.

The team instituted similar initiatives to help fans as they arrive at the stadium. New ingress systems will allow visitors to breeze through security without having to pull their phone, wallet and keys out of their pockets.  

“I want people to feel comfortable here, to be able to feel — importantly — part of a community,” Harris said. “We’re all part of a community that wants the Commanders to win.”

The Commanders brought a slew of new food offerings to help fans feel at home as they catch a game. For those with a sweet tooth, the “Major Hog Sundae” offers an ice cream dessert topped with chocolate and a cookie or cupcake. 

Looking for something hotter? The “Raising Hail Nachos,” with smoked brisket, cheese, jalapenos, onions and barbecue aioli, await brave souls in a “stadium-size” container. 

“That’s the granddaddy of them all,” Sous Chef Evin Martin said. 

While flashy new food offerings and streamlined security might be the first amenities to catch fans’ eyes, millions of dollars went into the facility’s infamous infrastructure. The water abatement system — a potential culprit for the leaks and cold water — has been replaced. A new coat of paint covers the floors, offering an updated look and a non-slip coating. 

Harris said he “made it his business” to learn from the top stadiums around the world — like Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — as he worked to make Commanders Field feel like home. 

“There’s a lot of knowledge out there,” Harris said. “It’s an area of a lot of technology; it’s constantly changing. …. We have a lot of decisions to make, and I can assure you that we’re going to be as thoughtful as we can.”

Harris saw the luxurious clubs and amenities for season ticket holders at other stadiums and brought a plan to Landover. The result? Two new luxury areas for fans: the Tunnel Club and the 1932 Club.

The 1932 Club on the suite level offers all-you-can-eat food, free beer, wine and theater-style suites.

Season tickets in the 1932 Club start at $7,500 per person for the season. They sold out within a weekend, according to team officials.

The 108-seat club and its accompanying 28 suites weren’t there last year. They were a bullpen for the franchise’s ticket-selling team. 

The field-level Tunnel Club had a similar inception. New stadiums around the NFL are offering more access for fans, allowing them to get up close and personal with their favorite players.

With that in mind, the Commanders create the Tunnel Club. Members will enter the stadium through the same tunnel the players use before pregame field visits. 

Access to the club — which was a storage and security room last season — will cost $7,500 per person for the season. 

 ”We need to use every nook and cranny we can while we’re here,” said Trista Langdon, the senior vice president for operations and guest experience. 

As he wandered the renovated stadium on Sunday, Harris was already thinking about what comes next. The new stadium and NFL draft would seem like likely candidates for the next plan, but the owner is focusing on what’s in front of him.

For now, he wants to keep improving Commanders Field.

“I think we’ve got more to do,” he said.