D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s dogged pursuit of the Washington Commanders continued Thursday as the city released a report claiming a new professional football stadium built in the city would bring $1.26 billion in revenues to the District each year.
The report, produced by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, also projected that a football stadium could create 2,095 jobs and $26 million in annual tax revenue.
“D.C. is the Sports Capital. We know how important sports are to our city’s economy and culture,” the Democratic mayor said in a statement. “They create jobs, generate tax revenue and spur economic development. … We look forward to continuing to support our teams in ways that benefit our city and residents and help knock D.C.’s Comeback out of the park.”
Bowser has repeatedly expressed her desire to build a new stadium for the Commanders in the District. The franchise left RFK Stadium to start playing home games in suburban Landover, Maryland in 1997, but is looking for a new site as the facility has aged.
New Commanders owner Josh Harris has alluded to a potential move when the team’s lease at Commanders Field, formerly known as FedEx Field, ends in 2027.
Politicians from D.C, Maryland and Virginia have all made pitches to be the franchise’s next home.
“We have long said that we believe D.C. should be in a position to have authority over the land at RFK,” a Commanders spokesperson said in February. “We are pleased to have multiple jurisdictions that want to be home to the Commanders.”
In its press release, the mayor’s office also cited a Washington Post poll that found that 76% of D.C. residents said they want the team’s next stadium in the District.
The old RFK Stadium, located just blocks from Capitol Hill, is slated for demolition this year. Federal legislation that would allow city officials to build a new stadium on the site has passed through the House and is pending a vote from a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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