D.C. officials celebrated a potential new stadium to lure the Washington Commanders back to the District this week, but representatives from Maryland aren’t throwing in the towel.
A congressional funding bill expected to pass through the House and Senate this week would lease the RFK Stadium site to D.C. officials for 99 years to build housing retail or a new NFL arena.
Commanders officials have not committed to building a new stadium in any specific jurisdiction, which owner Josh Harris noted could open in 2030. D.C., Maryland and Virginia are all still in play.
“Commanders: Our position on the stadium hasn’t changed,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “We are not afraid of competition, and we believe that we can continue to build on decades of partnership with the team here in Maryland. We are confident that Landover is still the best, and fastest, path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.”
Even if the Commanders leave Maryland, where they’ve played since 1997, the Old Line State wouldn’t be left empty-handed. According to multiple reports, team officials agreed to demolish their old stadium and invest in new developments if they build a new stadium in D.C. or Virginia.
That agreement was enough to get Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen to support the RFK Stadium proposal this week.
“Should the Commanders leave Maryland, that wouldn’t leave the surrounding community high and dry,” Mr. Van Hollen told FOX 5 on Tuesday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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