- The Washington Times - Monday, January 6, 2025

President Biden signed legislation Monday to grant administrative control of the RFK Stadium site in the District to city officials, potentially paving the way for a new NFL coliseum on the long-deteriorating site.

The Senate passed the legislation last month after extended negotiations. 

The proposal was initially part of a government funding bill, but it was removed after concerns from Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency. It was passed as a standalone bill in a last-minute measure.

“It is a good day for D.C. when we finally have control of our own destiny at the RFK campus,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday. “We are ready and optimistic about unlocking the full potential of this space.”

The federal legislation does not guarantee that the Washington Commanders will return to the District after playing their home games in nearby Landover since 1997. However, it allows city officials to tear down the old, rusting stadium and build new developments.

“With more than 170 acres of land we can do it all — deliver housing, economic opportunity, green space, recreation, sports and more,” Ms. Bowser said.

The bill received widespread support from local leaders who have long requested control of the site. Even those concerned about a new stadium — like Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ebony Payne — have advocated for the legislation.

“It is very important that the city has control of the land, but there’s a lot of trepidation,” Ms. Payne, who lives in the Kingman Park neighborhood surrounding the site, said last month.

Commanders owner Josh Harris has said he wants to open a new stadium before the 2030 NFL season. But the team is playing the field and considering options in the District, Maryland and Virginia.  

“This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans,” Mr. Harris said in a statement last month.

Though the franchise has been noncommittal about its new home, the RFK site boasts undeniable nostalgia for longtime fans. 

The team won all three of its Super Bowls while playing its home games in the District. 

They’ve won just one playoff game at the newer Northwest Stadium since ditching the District more than 25 years ago.

With local control of the site in hand, the next step in luring the Commanders back to D.C. would require Ms. Bowser to convince the City Council to support a stadium. Some local politicians, including Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen, oppose the idea.

“I don’t think that’s a good return on the investment,” Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen said on 106.7 The Fan’s “Grant and Danny” show last month. “So, if D.C. residents are asking if I think I should be spending hundreds of millions of their dollars on an NFL stadium that doesn’t have a return on investment, I don’t think that’s a good deal for D.C.”

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.

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