Washington (AFP) – The Washington Commanders are heading back to the US capital after agreeing to a deal to build a new $3.7 billion stadium on the site of their former home, the NFL franchise announced on Monday. A statement from the Commanders said the team would relocate from its present home at Landover, Maryland to a new arena built where the now defunct Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium stands. Washington played at RFK — which is being demolished — from 1961 to 1996.
The Commanders, who expect the new stadium to be ready for the 2030 season, will invest $2.7 billion in the project, with the Washington D.C. government contributing an additional $500 billion. Washington mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement that the new roofed stadium would be the centerpiece of a 180-acre development in the US capital, which would also include housing, parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, and other neighborhood amenities.
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Commanders managing partner Josh Harris said the stadium deal marked a “defining moment” for the city and the franchise. “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,” Harris said. “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. RFK was once a place our fans loved, and opponents feared – we’re determined to make it that way again.”
The new venue will have a capacity of approximately 65,000, while the entire campus would create approximately 5,000-6,000 housing units and 2,000 permanent jobs. “We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the Sports Capital,” Bowser said. “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.”
The Commanders’ return to the US capital was welcomed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “Some of my earliest football memories growing up in the District were going to games at RFK Stadium,” Goodell said. “It’s time to bring the Commanders home.”
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