Tag: new stadium

Commanders hire Senate aide to help in search for new stadium

Josh Harris makes a big hire to help in search for new stadium.

While the NFL world is focused on next week’s NFL draft, the Washington Commanders continue to make significant hires.

On Monday, Washington hired Dave Gardi away from the league office to serve as the senior vice president of football initiatives. Gardi will handle in-game management duties for the Commanders, supporting the coaching staff and front office on compliance with NFL protocols, officiating trends and health and safety protocols.

On Tuesday, owner Josh Harris made another big hire, bringing in top Senate aide Kirtan Mehta, per Hans Nichols of Axios.

Mehta’s new role will focus on Washington’s search for a new home. The team’s lease for FedEx Field in Landover expires in 2027, the 30th anniversary of the stadium’s opening. It has long been criticized as one of the worst venues in the league. While the team would likely prefer to build its new stadium at the RFK Stadium site in D.C., some hurdles remain.

Here’s why Mehta’s hiring is important, via Nichols:

“But he’s the kind of hire a new NFL owner would make to navigate the politics of moving a team from the Maryland suburbs to a parcel of land that’s currently owned by the federal government.”

D.C., Maryland and Virginia all want the Commanders, and Mehta will be instrumental in Harris finding the best possible deal for the franchise.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has been outspoken about the Commanders returning to D.C. since Harris bought the team from Dan Snyder last year.

Nichols on Mehta:

“Mehta’s first task: Getting House-passed legislation through the Senate that would allow Bowser to negotiate with Harris on a potential package for a stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River.”

Mehta comes to the Commanders after serving as the chief of staff for Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO). He previously worked with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) for five years. Manchin chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Look – Northwestern’s Ryan Field Meets Its Maker

Photos from Northwestern’s historic Ryan Field being torn down to make way for a new state-of-the-art football venue.

There used to be a time Notre Dame would make the short trip to Northwestern and take on the Wildcats at Dyche Stadium (before it became Ryan Field) with regularity.

Notre Dame played there 19 times from 1926-1976. However, the last Notre Dame trip to the venue came in 2018 when a battered Ian Book helped guide the Irish to a 31-21 win to move to 9-0.

In the 20 games Notre Dame played there, the Irish won 17. A fun fact: Two of those Northwestern wins were in 1960 and 1962 when a young head coach named Ara Parseghian led the Wildcats to 7-6 and 35-6 victories. The blowout in ’62 clearly made an impact; he was hired to coach Notre Dame following the season.

In all, Notre Dame outscored Northwestern 428-165 in their 20 all-time meetings at Dyche Stadium/Ryan Field. For the mathematically challenged, that’s an average of a roughly 21-8 Notre Dame victory each time.

Over the past month Ryan Field has been being torn down to make room for a modern football venue in the same location. You can see photos of Ryan Field’s demolition below as well as some photos from Notre Dame’s last trip to the nearly century-old venue in 2018.

If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Express” on Syracuse star Ernie Davis, a good amount of that film was shot at the venue as well.

Personally, as nice as the new venue will be the old place will always hold a special place in my heart as it’s the closest Football Bowl Subdivision stadium to where I call home and a place I’ve spent countless Saturday morning and afternoons.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell optimistic about a Commanders stadium in Washington

Roger Goodell hopeful for a new Commanders stadium in Washington, D.C.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell grew up in Washington, D.C., as a fan of the Washington Redskins, attending games at the legendary RFK Stadium.

Since taking over the franchise, new owner Josh Harris has been looking for the home of his team’s next stadium. The old RFK Stadium site, in addition to sites in Maryland and Virginia, is in the running.

Last month, House lawmakers passed a bill to allow D.C. to use the RFK Stadium site for a potential new home for the Commanders. The passing of that bill is only the first step for a potential return to the District for the NFL franchise; the bill goes to the Senate next.

However, everyone is optimistic that Washington and the Commanders can find common ground, including Goodell.

“Well, I’ve talked to (D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser) several times going back, I think, two years, about allowing D.C. to have the ability to have a long-term lease,” Goodell said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Florida, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

“As you probably know, I grew up in Washington, D.C. I spent a lot of time at the old RFK Stadium. It’s something that I think Josh and the Commanders want to evaluate. I think the city wants to evaluate (it), and I think the NFL does. So, I see it as a very positive development that we can have another alternative that will allow us to get the kind of stadium in our nation’s capital that is warranted, in my view.”

The Commanders’ chances of landing a new stadium deal increased exponentially when Harris and his ownership group purchased the franchise from Daniel Snyder last year. Under Snyder, Washington had no hope of striking a deal anywhere for a new stadium.

Speaking of Snyder, do you think Goodell was happy not to discuss Washington’s former owner this year at the NFL meetings?

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attends Commanders training camp

Youngkin believes Virginia is the best place for the Commanders new stadium.

When the Washington Commanders opened training camp Wednesday, owners Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales were present. The pair were spotted talking to legendary Washington quarterback Joe Theismann.

On Thursday, Harris and Rales returned, along with another of Harris’ minority partners, Mark Ein. The new owners were popular with the fans.

Also in attendance was Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Was Youngkin in town to enjoy some football, greet Washington’s new owners, or talk business?

Perhaps it was all three.

Virginia, of course, is one of three localities hoping to build a new football stadium for the Commanders. Washington, D.C. and Maryland have let it be known that they want the NFL franchise in their jurisdictions. At one point, Virginia looked like the most likely outcome for a new stadium until everything fell apart for former owner Daniel Snyder.

Youngkin spoke with Washington, took pictures and signed autographs. He was also asked about the possibility of a new stadium in Virginia. Youngkin was clear he believes Virginia is the best place for a new Commanders stadium.

“I think Virginia is the best place to live, work, raise a family and it should be the best place to have a professional football team,” Youngkin said.

Youngkin himself is a former athlete, having played four years of college basketball at Rice before entering the business world. He was elected governor of Virginia in Nov. 2021, beginning his term in Jan. 2022.

One Washington D.C. councilman wants the NFL team ‘back home’

But there is opposition.

For the first time in a while, there are good vibes surrounding the Washington Commanders. Owner Daniel Snyder has agreed in principle to sell the franchise to a group led by Josh Harris, which also includes Mitchell Rales and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Snyder has owned the team since 1999, presiding over controversy and controversy, and a lot of bad football.

When Snyder hired Bruce Allen in December 2009, the pair were supposed to land a new stadium eventually. However, it never happened. Washington, D.C. didn’t want the team back, Maryland was fine with the Commanders remaining at FedEx Field and Virginia shut down the team’s hopes for a new stadium.

With Snyder selling the franchise, everything is back on the table, particularly in Washington, where the franchise played its home games at the legendary RFK Stadium for over 30 years.

On Tuesday, D.C. native and Ward 5 councilman Kenyon McDuffie said he wants the team “back home.”

“I think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the RFK site to re-imagine it,” he said, per WUSA 9 in Washington.

McDuffie believes a stadium could revitalize the area by adding housing, retail and concert venues.

“I don’t think it needs to be just a football stadium there,” McDuffie said. “I think it should be a broader conversation.”

However, some of McDuffie’s fellow council members didn’t share his enthusiasm.

“I’m not going to get cross-ways with a colleague,” said Chairman Phil Mendelson. “But I will say this – the RFK site is bounded on one side by the Anacostia River, on other sides by park land, and on the fourth side by residential. It is not the opportune site for economic development.”

The RFK Stadium site is owned by the federal government and was only leased to D.C. for use as a stadium. 

While things don’t appear imminent, the outlook is much more positive than it was one year ago for the NFL franchise to return to Washington.

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With Snyder out, does Loudoun County already want new Commanders stadium?

Is Loudoun County back on the table for a potential new stadium for the Commanders?

With Daniel Snyder’s sale of the Commanders to be soon finalized, the Commanders already have Loudoun County declaring interest in a new Commanders stadium.

Snyder, you recall, for the last several years, ran into obstacle after obstacle of local governments not wanting to do business with him. Thus a new stadium never materialized.

With a group led by Josh Harris ready to purchase the Commanders for $6 billion, Loudoun County is the first to publicly declare they want the stadium.

“We look forward to welcoming the Washington Commanders to the Loudoun County Board Room to share their vision of a new stadium as part of a multi-use development in an urban setting,” Matt Rogers wrote in a statement to the Times-Mirror on April 15.

The site in mind is a portion of the Chantilly Crushed Stone quarry property planned for the Waterside mixed-use development.

But of course, other voices in Loudoun have already responded negatively to the idea of the Commanders’ stadium bringing the excess traffic to the county.

Supervisor Tony Buffington, R-Blue Ridge, has in the past openly been opposed to the stadium idea for Loudoun County. He has voiced it would increase traffic and crime. He reiterated that opposition in a Facebook post on April 16, according to Coy Ferrell of the Loudoun Times.

Yet, Del. David Reid, D-32nd, has already replied he feels strongly Loudoun County would be the best of the three locations suggested and investigated last year by the state because of its proximity to the Metrorail and the airport. “The fact that this would be on the far eastern end of the county, I think the traffic impact would be minimal,” he said.

“We have the opportunity, if we just look at it from the Loudoun perspective to diversity the Loudoun economy from being so dependent on data centers,” emphasizing that the stadium complex is “intended to be a 365-day kind of [development] — much like One Loudoun.” And since the stadium could spur a significant number of visitors to Loudoun, it could be good for the western Loudoun economy as well,” he said.

Might the most significant aspect of the story be that not even 48 hours after the breaking of the news that Snyder has agreed in principle with Josh Harris to sell the Commanders, some Loudoun County officials are already voicing their desire for the stadium to be built in Loudoun?

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Broncos ownership shouldn’t ask fans to help fund new stadium with PSLs

The Broncos have the richest ownership group in the NFL (by far). Those owners should not ask fans to help fund a new stadium with PSLs.

The Denver Broncos sent an email to season ticket holders on Thursday asking them to take a survey about the possibility of renovations to Empower Field at Mile High and the possibility of a completely new stadium.

“Surveys sent to fans regarding our gameday/stadium experience are the next step of the research project we announced in January,” team president Damani Leech tweeted on March 23. “We’ve had great feedback from the focus groups & look forward to learning even more with the surveys. Let us know what you think, Broncos Country!”

The Broncos have not yet officially made a decision on the possibility of a new stadium, but this is a step in a process that could ultimately lead to such a decision being made.

Thursday’s survey link asked questions about the stadium’s location (and how far fans are willing to travel) and the possibility of a roof on the stadium, among other topics. The survey also introduced the possibility of personal seat licenses, a one-time purchase that gives season ticket holders the “right” to buy their tickets each season.

PSLs are hated by fans but loved by teams because they can help fund building new stadiums. One fan on Twitter said he would have to pay almost $15,000 to get PSLs for his three season tickets in the highest section of the stadium.

“If the @Broncos want me to pay nearly $15000 for a PSL for my 3 seats, plus increase the total price per season for those seats by $2400 (to nearly $6000) I’ll be out,” @H_MooreCO tweeted Thursday.

Many fans will feel similarly, but with a long season-ticket waiting list, Denver will likely be able to find other fans willing to pay up. NFL games are already expensive to attend. Adding in PSLs for season ticket holders would make Broncos games even more out of reach for many fans.

“PSL’s price out average-income fans,” @AlamoOnTheRise tweeted Thursday. “If the Walton-Penner group is seeking to wash out longstanding, lower income season ticket holders, PSL’s are the way to go.”

Denver’s front office will point out that nearly every modern NFL stadium has been built with the help of PSLs. Broncos fans can counter, though, that no other NFL team has an ownership group like the Walton-Penner family.

Rob Walton has an estimated net worth of nearly $60 billion. The next-richest owner in the NFL is David Tepper, worth nearly $19 billion. Denver has the richest ownership group in the NFL by a very wide margin.

The Broncos do not have an ordinary ownership group, and they shouldn’t follow the lead of ordinary owners. Every ownership group in the NFL can afford to pay for their own stadium, and Denver’s even more so. Nothing is official yet, but if the Broncos ultimately decide to build a new super stadium, the owners should not ask fans to help fund it with PSLs.

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Sixers going to build brand new $1.3 billion arena in Center City

The Philadelphia 76ers will build a new $1.3 billion arena in the Center City area of Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia 76ers have played at the Wells Fargo Center since 1996, sharing the building with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. Most recently, the Sixers have looked to find a basketball-only arena, and they were denied in the Penn’s Landing area, but it seems like they have finally found a spot.

On Thursday morning, the Sixers announced that they are going to build a $1.3 billion arena in the Center City area of Philadelphia. They would be leaving the stadium district in South Philly and will be moving downtown to what is called the Fashion District.

Per NBC Philadelphia:

“The Philadelphia 76ers are a storied Philadelphia institution with a proven track record of investing in their community. That’s why we’re committed to building a world-class home in the heart of the City and creating a privately-funded arena that strengthens ties within the local community through investments that prioritize equity, inclusivity and accessibility,” Harris said in a statement.

The arena would generate $1.9 billion in overall economic output during construction and $400 million annually upon opening, the Sixers said.

This is a big step forward for the Sixers as they continue their search for their own home. The Wells Fargo Center is a nice spot and it is convenient for fans, but to have their own arena strictly for basketball would be a big help for them.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Lawmakers introduce bill that could impact Washington’s new stadium

This week, Congress introduced a new bill to eliminate tax breaks for sports teams building a new stadium.

The Washington Commanders are looking to be in their new home by 2027. The Commanders, who currently play at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, are deciding between three locations of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., for their next stadium.

The state of Virginia has a leg up to be Washington’s new home. Earlier this month, the Virginia House voted to advance a bill that would create a new stadium authority in Virginia.

But, nothing is official. Washington and Maryland both want to build a new stadium in their respective jurisdictions. And, with all of the controversy still circling owner Daniel Snyder, members of Congress introduced a new bill this week that would eliminate tax breaks for pro sports teams.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said the following in a statement, per John Keim of ESPN:

The NFL has proven once again that it can’t play by the rules. As such, taxpayers-subsidized municipal bonds should no longer be a reward for the Washington Commanders and other teams that continue to operate workplaces that are dens of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. It doesn’t make economic sense, and it’s particularly galling given the league’s longstanding failure to address issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault as well as on-going racial and gender discrimination and domestic violence.

Per Keim, the bill would eliminate the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds, which are used to finance professional stadiums.

The Commanders will need to pick a location soon so that construction can begin on a new stadium. All three options are intriguing, but returning to Washington is the choice of most fans.

Commanders pick up a big win in bid for new stadium in Virginia

More good news for the Commanders in their bid for a new stadium in Virginia.

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The Washington Commanders haven’t played their first game under the new moniker, yet they picked up a big win Monday.

In their bid to build a new stadium in Virginia, the Virginia House voted 14-7 to advance a bill that would create a Virginia stadium authority, per Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“The bill grants authority to a group that would be appointed by the governor to fast-track and issue bonds for a potential stadium,” Phillips wrote.

Things continue to trend well for Washington’s hopes to build a new stadium in Virginia. Last month, the state introduced two new bills to lure the Commanders to Virginia.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has stated the nation’s capital wants the Commanders back in D.C., while Maryland governor Larry Hogan hopes to keep them in Maryland.

While each side has time to make pitches to Washington brass, there are multiple reasons for the state of Virginia to be optimistic. For one, the team appears to have two land options: one in Prince William County and the other in Loudoun County.

Shortly after Washington’s rebranding last week, team president Jason Wright said the team would be in a new home in 2027. Washington’s lease at FedEx Field ends after the 2026 season.

Now, Washington must get through five more seasons at FedEx Field.