Washington DC Mayor And Commanders Announce Deal for Roofed Stadium at RFK Campus

Washington, DC Mayor Murial Bowser and Josh Harris, Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders, announced a deal to activate 180 acres at the RFK campus with a roofed stadium, housing, parks, retail and hotels.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the Sports Capital,” said Bowser in a release. “We said that we could do it all – Commanders, housing, park space, recreation, retail, entertainment and more – and, together, that’s what we are delivering.”

“Today is a defining moment for the DMV and the Washington Commanders,” added Harris.

“RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history – it’s where the team dominated the NFL, capturing three Super Bowls and creating unforgettable memories for fans. Now, we have the opportunity to honor that legacy by building a new world-class stadium – one that is also a once-in-a-generation catalyst for uplifting and transforming our region.”

Under the terms of the deal, the Commanders will drive the investment of at least $2.7 billion to build a stadium with a translucent roof that can be used year-round, together with related improvements, making this the single largest private investment in DC’s history. The DC Government (the District) will invest $500 million from the Sports Facilities Fee. By leveraging dedicated funds from the fee, the District will not need to make any cuts from the city’s operating budget.

The District will facilitate parking development using a $175 million revenue bond, which will be funded by in-stadium activity once the stadium is operating. Events DC will contribute up to $181 million for parking garages near the community recreation facilities, which Events DC will own. The District will invest in utilities infrastructure and roadways at the site and invest $202 million for utilities infrastructure, roadways and a WMATA transit study.

With approximately 65,000-seats the stadium is expected to open in 2030 and will occupy 11% of the overall site. The RFK Campus is accessible by public transit and the entire campus at full buildout will have approximately 8,000 parking spots. The entire campus is expected to create approximately 5,000-6,000 housing units, including at least 30% affordable housing.

In addition to building the stadium, the Commanders will be responsible for activating and developing multiple parcels of land around the stadium with restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, housing and green space.

Throughout the construction process, the District will continue to operate the Fields at RFK and has plans to develop a new sportsplex that will host year-round sporting events and tournaments for DC youth. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal includes $89 million for the sportsplex.

The activation of the RFK campus through this deal is expected to create approximately 14,000 jobs in connection to the stadium construction and 2,000 permanent jobs. The stadium and surrounding development is anticipated to create approximately $4 billion in total tax revenue and yield more than $15.6 billion in direct spending over 30 years.

The Washington Commanders are returning to Washington, DC after playing at RFK Stadium for 35 seasons (1961 to 1996). During their time at RFK, the team won three Super Bowl titles: Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXVI. The stadium also hosted five NFC Championship Games, all of which the team won, making Washington the only franchise to win five NFC titles at the same stadium.

The deal now must pass the DC Council.