WASHINGTON – The DC Council voted 11-2 Wednesday evening in favor of constructing a new stadium complex in the nation’s capital to once again house the Washington Commanders.
“Fans of the team can rightly celebrate the return of the Commanders to the district as a major moment in our city’s proud history,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen.
The resolution authorizes the city to proceed with development plans for a replacement for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, which currently is being demolished.
“The District now has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to continue to revitalize the Anacostia Waterfront…and develop a vibrant, mixed-use development featuring community sports, professional sports, public recreation, public park space, and cultural amenities,” the bill stated.
The Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025 authorizes the “redevelopment and management” of the property, including the construction of a new stadium.
This arena would relocate the Washington Commanders, the region’s professional football team, from their current stadium in Landover, Maryland, where the franchise has played since 1997.
The stadium aspect of the project is scheduled to be completed in December of 2030 while development of the surrounding area is set to be finished in 2040.
The new stadium will have a transparent roof and hold crowds of up to 65,000, just slightly smaller than the Northwest Stadium (formerly FedEx Field) in Landover, which holds 67,617.
The Washington Commanders are contributing at least $2.7 billion to the property’s development, as well as the full cost of the stadium’s construction, which is estimated to cost below $500 million.
Jurisdiction over the 180-acre property was transferred to the DC Council in January following a decade-long effort to absorb the land from the federal government.
The council also has outlined other plans to develop the property, including building restaurants, retail, and around 5,000 housing units.
This decision marks the first time in nearly three decades in which the Washington Commanders, previously known as the Washington Redskins, will play a home game in the District of Columbia.
The final NFL game played in RFK Stadium took place Dec. 22, 1996. The stadium was used in the following years for other sports events and entertainment. It has been fully closed to the public since 2019.
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