DC Council Approves Preliminary Plan for Commanders Return to RFK Stadium

The Washington Commanders are set to return to Washington, D.C., with the city council approving legislation to build a new stadium on the site of the former RFK Stadium, their home from 1961 to 1996. The council voted 9-3 to approve the plan, which still requires a second vote before going to Mayor Muriel Bowser, who negotiated the original agreement with team owner Josh Harris. The project, estimated to cost $3.7 billion, will be funded with $1 billion from the city and $2.7 billion from the team, with the team covering any cost overruns. The new stadium, expected to open in 2030, is part of a mixed-use redevelopment plan that could generate an estimated $26.6 billion in tax revenue over 30 years. Although President Donald Trump threatened to block federal support for the project unless the team reverted to its former Redskins name, this issue was not addressed during the council meeting. The move marks the Commanders' return to the city after playing at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, since 1997.