• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Commanders D.C. Stadium Plan Hinges on Government Funding Resolution

The effort to get the RFK Stadium bill passed by Congress took a major step forward Tuesday night, but a push against a resolution to fund the government may get in the way.

Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) spikes the ball in the end zone after catching a touchdown pass as Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Supporters of the RFK Stadium bill have touted the many potential uses of the development project, including parks and housing for the 174 acres the Commanders had called home for decades. For example, neither the words “Commanders” or “stadium” appeared in D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s remarks after the legislation took a major step forward Tuesday night.  

But the push to get the bill—which transfers the land under the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to D.C.—passed by Congress illustrates that, not only will the parcel be an option for a stadium, but it’s also the preferred site for the Commanders within Josh Harris’s ownership group, two sources close to the legislative effort told Front Office Sports

The Commanders aren’t picking a favorite, at least publicly, just yet.

“This bill is about creating 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,” a team source told FOS.  

But after billionaire Elon Musk and President-Elect Donald Trump came out against the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government that included the RFK Stadium bill, there’s now uncertainty about not only the stadium bill but whether the government will avoid a midnight Friday shutdown. It’s not immediately clear what Speaker Mike Johnson will do, although critics of the CR seek a slimmer funding bill that doesn’t have new spending. 

Musk mischaracterized the RFK Stadium bill on his X platform as he criticized actual government spending rolled into the CR. 

“This should not be funded by your tax dollars!” Musk posted

The RFK Stadium bill has never had spending attached, although a lot of bargaining was done in recent days. 

After Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen backed off their opposition, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and the Commanders agreed to a plan to develop the team’s current home in Landover if the Commanders leave the city, the RFK Stadium bill was in the original CR released Tuesday night. 

Since the RFK Stadium bill (unlike many others in the CR) has no taxpayer money involved, the bill could still end up in a slimmer CR—if that’s the path Johnson takes. Continuing resolutions, once passed by the House, can only be amended by sending it back to the House. 

While there’s still a chance for a three-jurisdiction battle for the Commanders’ next home, Maryland’s pushback on the bill that the Commanders and the NFL lobbied for, and Virginia’s relative silence, leave D.C. as the top contender. 

“We are confident that Landover is still the best, and fastest, path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders,” Moore said in a statement. “We have said from the start of this process that regardless of what happens with the RFK legislation, we are focused on making sure that Landover receives the investment it deserves. While the stadium location is still an open question, the Commanders and the state of Maryland both agree on the importance of the team’s commitment to the Prince George’s community if the team decides to move.”

There’s a feeling among several politicians in Northern Virginia—one of the many areas explored under former owner Dan Snyder—that the Commanders favor D.C., one source said. 

But since the target date to open a stadium to replace arguably the worst in the NFL isn’t until 2030, there’s plenty of time for things to change. The Commanders own Northwest Stadium and the 200 acres they comprise in Landover, where the team has played since 1997.  

D.C. gave up some fighter jets to Maryalnd to get the deal done, so Bowser and others in the District’s government see a football stadium as a potential centerpiece toward developing the land where the original RFK Stadium is still being demolished. But there will likely be local opposition to bringing a sports team to the site after both the Nationals and D.C. United found new homes in Southeast D.C. years ago. 

As far as public money goes, there are doubts D.C. could afford to match what Maryland or Virgnina could offer. Earlier this year, D.C. agreed to spend $515 million to upgrade Capital One Arena, home of the Wizards and Capitals, over the next three years. 

But with the amount of demolition and remediation the site requires, it won’t be ready immediately after the 99-year lease kicks in when the continuing resolution passes through Congress and is signed by President Biden to fund the government through March 14. Construction doesn’t have to begin for another two or three years anyway. 

The RFK Stadium bill stated “training facilities, offices, and other structures” could be included on the land, however, a new HQ and training facility aren’t expected to be part of the RFK stadium complex if the Commanders indeed relocate there. 

In the latest NFLPA survey, players ranked the team’s practice facility last for a second year in a row in overall workplace conditions—and the tiny training digs at the team’s headquarters in Ashburn, Va., are a major reason why. But the franchise doesn’t plan to leave Ashburn and has had initial discussions to create state-of-the-art training and HQ facilities, which could include workspace for many employees who currently work out of Northwest Stadium, the two sources said.

Loudoun County, where the five boroughs of unincorporated Ashburn are located, has the top median household income ($170,463) in the nation, but housing isn’t as pricey or as scarce as D.C., located 40 minutes away (without traffic).

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Fox Extends Erin Andrews, Charissa Thompson Contracts Ahead of NFL Season

Changes are coming at Fox, but Andrews and Thompson stay put.
Chelsea

Chelsea Club World Cup Run Banks at Least $100M for Mark Walter..

The Blues will likely take home between $100 million and $120 million.
TSU Hockey at Bridgestone

Tennessee State’s HBCU Hockey Ambitions Delayed at Least a Year

The school will not launch the first-of-its-kind program as intended.

Has the WNBA Outgrown the Matinee Madness of Camp Days?

Caitlin Clark will return from injury in a Wednesday noon game.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”

Chiefs Delay Stadium Decision As Kansas Dangles Dome Dreams

Kansas legislators extend bonds for potential Chiefs and Royals facilities.
July 2, 2025

Commanders’ $3.8B Stadium Deal in Jeopardy? Mayor Sounds the Alarm

Political tensions rise about delays in stadium funding approval.
Jul 3, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot during his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) on day seven at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
July 7, 2025

Wimbledon’s Expansion Battle Looms Over Star-Studded Quarterfinals

The expansion’s loudest opposition is Save Wimbledon Park.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 1, 2025

$600M for Browns Stadium Sparks Cleveland Backlash, Possible Lawsuit

The awarding of public funds draws criticism and could bring a lawsuit.
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
June 26, 2025

Bengals Strike 10-Year, $470M Stadium Deal to Stay in Cincinnati

The NFL franchise and Hamilton County have agreed to a new lease.
June 26, 2025

Browns $2.4B Stadium Plan Now Relies on Ohioans’ Forgotten Money

Ohio’s Modell Law is revised, while stadium funding faces new challenges.