Tag: RFK Stadium

Some potential good news for the Commanders in their efforts to build stadium in D.C.

Congress preparing new legislation that could pave the way for the Commanders’ return to D.C.

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The Washington Commanders will have a new owner soon. The NFL will vote on the sale of the Commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris on July 20. NFL owners are expected to vote to approve Harris as Washington’s new owner.

With Snyder out of the picture, building a new stadium at the old RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., suddenly becomes an option. Unfortunately, there are hurdles. The federal government owns the RFK site. However, good news could be on the horizon as the District hopes to bring the Commanders back into D.C.

According to The Washington Post, Representative James Comer [R-Ky] is preparing a bill that would allow D.C. to develop the RFK site. It would not be a land sale, and a spokesman for the House Oversight Committee said details of the new legislation have not been finalized. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office is actively involved in the discussions. Bowser has spoken of wanting the NFL team to return to the city.

As the Post noted, if the legislation is passed, other hurdles remain before the Commanders can build a new stadium at the RFK site. D.C. City Council is divided on what to do with the site, although one member has gone on record with his thoughts on bringing the Commanders back to Washington.

“I think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the RFK site to re-imagine it,” Ward 5 Councilman Kenyon McDuffie said, per WUSA 9 in Washington.

If the legislation is passed, Washington may become the frontrunner, ahead of Maryland and Virginia, for a potential new Commanders’ stadium.

 

WATCH: Washington D.C. councilman continues to make his case for the Commanders

He believes the Commanders should return to Washington, D.C.

As everyone awaits the NFL’s timeline for owners to vote on the sale of the Washington Commanders, different jurisdictions continue to jockey to be the franchise’s future home.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has made his case. He went on local airwaves last week, explaining why the Commanders should remain in Prince George’s County [Maryland].

Washington D.C. councilman Kenyan McDuffie has also been outspoken about the Commanders’ future stadium. McDuffie believes the Commanders belong in the District, specifically at the RFK Stadium site.

Last month, McDuffie wrote an Op-Ed in The Washington Post, writing it was time to “bring the team home.”

After Moore’s time on local sports radio last week, McDuffie took to his Twitter account this week, on location at the RFK Stadium, to make his own pitch for the Commanders’ return to D.C.

McDuffie’s pitch is one the Commanders want in a new stadium. They want it to be more than a stadium, something that offers housing, shopping, etc. And that’s McDuffie’s pitch, as he thinks the NFL franchise’s return would be outstanding for the citizens of Washington, D.C.

Now, we are waiting for someone from Virginia to make their case to be the new home for the Commanders.

All three are enticing options for the Commanders. Maryland is probably the least appealing as it would keep the team at FedEx Field, even though things would be vastly different. However, returning to Washington, D.C., is atop the wish list of most.

Virginia, you’re up next.

Roger Goodell: ‘I grew up in Washington D.C…so I understand the passion of the fans’

The NFL commissioner discussed the Commanders’ sale and potential new stadium.

It’s no secret that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell grew up in Washington, D.C., as a fan of the then-Washington Redskins. The son of a former United States Senator, Goodell became a fan of the Washington franchise when the legendary head coach George Allen took over the franchise in 1971.

“I was a Colts fan through the 60s when I grew up in Washington,” Goodell said in an interview with the Big Lead in 2009. “Then I became a Redskins fan. I think a lot of it had to do with George Allen coming in and taking over the Redskins.”

While Goodell long ago gave up his fandom when he first began working in the NFL offices in the 1980s, he never lost sight of his once-favorite team and what has happened to the franchise under Daniel Snyder’s ownership since 1999.

Goodell has personally had to deal with the fallout of many of the issues surrounding Snyder over the years, including the multiple investigations into his alleged misconduct and the franchise’s formerly toxic workplace.

But since the franchise went up for sale in November, Goodell has toed the company line and asked Snyder’s fellow owners to do the same after Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke out against Snyder in October.

Now that the franchise has a deal in place for Snyder to sell to Josh Harris, Goodell is still saying all the right things.

“I think we’ll get it to a place where it will be approved,” Goodell said Tuesday at a news conference with reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Minnesota, per Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of The Washington Post.

“The [finance] committee really just had their first meeting on the matter. We really got the documents last week. So we’re hard at work as a staff looking at that, as we do every transaction. There’s a lot of due diligence as well as compliance issues. All of that’s happening and working full speed… .And we’ll have a meeting at the appropriate time.”

Fair enough.

From that point, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington and 106.7 The Fan asked Goodell if it was a priority for the NFL to get back into Washington, D.C., by building the Commanders’ new stadium in the district.

“Listen, I have had the conversation with the Mayor [Muriel Bowser],” Goodell said. “I’ve had conversations with others in the Washington, D.C. region. As you probably knew, I grew up in Washington, D.C., going over to RFK Stadium, so I understand the passion of the fans in Washington. I think that’s something the new ownership is going to have to address,” Goodell said. “It is not something we’re requiring in the context of the transaction. But I know that the new ownership will be focused on it, just from the limited conversations I’ve had with them.”

Virginia may offer the best incentive for a new stadium, and Maryland may want to keep the Commanders in P.G. County, but building a new stadium in the District remains the team’s No. 1 preference.

Washington D.C. councilman makes his case for new Commanders’ new stadium at RFK

Councilman Kenyan McDuffie wants to bring the Commanders home to Washington, D.C.

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There’s a lot of positive momentum surrounding the Washington Commanders right now. Friday’s announcement that owner Daniel Snyder had finalized a deal to sell the franchise to Josh Harris and his group has Washington fans buzzing about what’s ahead.

One of those Washington fans is D.C. Councilman Kenyan McDuffie. In an Op-Ed for The Washington Post, McDuffie made his case about why the Commanders should build a new stadium in Washington, D.C.

McDuffie explained why he was proud of D.C.’s overall progress in recent years but thinks there’s more the city could do to “address persistent economic disparities.”

We’ll let McDuffie take it from here in his own words.

The RFK Stadium site in eastern D.C. offers one such opportunity. Redevelopment of the 190-acre riverfront campus has long been explored, but it has been stymied by a variety of factors, including a complicated lease agreement and differing opinions on how the site should be used.

Report: Commanders lobbying federal government to hand control of RFK site to D.C. government

The Commanders under new ownership will have options for a new stadium. But it’s clear the RFK Stadium site is No. 1.

The Washington Commanders will have a new owner soon. After 24 years, Daniel Snyder is expected to sell the NFL franchise to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris.

The deal is not complete but has been sent to the NFL and is expected to be approved at some point in the near future.

With that in mind, the Commanders are clearly focused on finding a new home stadium, and the No. 1 contender remains the old RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C.

Per Sam Fortier, Michael Brice-Saddler and Meagan Flynn of The Washington Post, the Commanders are lobbying the federal government to give the D.C. government control over the RFK Stadium site, paving the way for the city to reach a deal with the NFL franchise to bring them back to the nation’s capital.

In recent months, a group representing the Commanders — led by Dentons lobbyist Matthew Cutts and Commanders Vice President of Public Affairs Joe Maloney — has met with staff for the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, according to a spokesperson for the House committee and a spokesperson for Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), who chairs the Senate committee.

If the sale goes through to Harris, it could prompt a bidding war between D.C., Maryland and Virginia for a potential new home for the Commanders. However, for D.C. to be the choice, it would need control over the land, which the federal government owns and leases to Events DC — the District’s sports and entertainment authority.

As the Post noted, the natural resources committee has jurisdiction over land transfers, which would be critical in Washington’s efforts to gain control of the land. The current lease runs through 2038 and restricts the land’s usage to sports, entertainment and recreation, which would prevent the Commanders from creating the development they’ve envisioned for Maryland and Virginia.

The Commanders would like to resemble The Battery in Atlanta. Not only did the Braves build a new ballpark [Truist Park], but The Battery operates like a mini-city outside of the baseball stadium and is viewed as the future of professional sports stadiums. The Battery features dining, shopping, entertainment and lodging.

D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser has lobbied publicly for the Commanders to return to the city, noting that obstacles remain, which mostly consist of the federal government owning the land.

The Commanders returning to D.C. was not an option if Snyder owned the team. Now with a sale expected, the path is much clearer for the NFL franchise to return home if other issues are resolved.

 

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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Fan-driven stadium guide considers FedEx Field the worst in almost everything

A new stadium is one of the next owner’s top priorities.

When the then-Washington Redskins played their final NFL game at RFK Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 22, 1996, there was sadness amongst longtime fans.

One, the team was leaving the District of Columbia to play in Prince Georges’s County, Maryland. It was strange for Washington’s NFL not to play home games in D.C.

However, there was hope that the new stadium, initially named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium after the team’s legendary owner, would create a new home-field advantage for the future due to its size. The new stadium would hold around 80,000 seats, making it the largest in the NFL.

Unfortunately, things didn’t play out as envisioned and FedEx Field — the name since owner Dan Snyder sold the naming rights in 1999 — has routinely been called the worst stadium in the NFL.

The reasons for FedEx Field’s issues are endless. Much of it was due to Snyder, but not all of it. The location, traffic, parking, fan experience, etc. The stadium has been a nightmare, coinciding with plenty of bad football through the years.

SeatGeek, a prominent ticket platform that sells tickets for live events, has a fan-driven model it uses for stadium guides in different professional sports. To determine how each stadium ranks, SeatGeek asked 3,200 fans what they look forward to at each home game.

As expected, FedEx Field didn’t fare too well.

There are three categories in which stadiums are judged. Here is the list and where Washington ranked on each:

  • Atmosphere: 3.0 [ranked 32 of 32]
  • Food: 2.9 [ranked 32 of 32]
  • Bathrooms: 3.2 [ranked 30 of 32]

Hey, at least the bathrooms aren’t the worst.

In all seriousness, when Josh Harris takes over as Washington’s next owner — if the deal is finalized and he isn’t outbid at the last second — his No. 1 priority will be landing a new stadium. Fortunately, Harris and his partners are a capable group that should be able to get the job done.

Unfortunately for Washington fans, the franchise is bound to FedEx Field until at least 2027. But perhaps, a new ownership group can continue to make more positive, fan-friendly improvements until that time. There were positive developments in this area in 2022 under team president Jason Wright and his group.

Remembering RFK Stadium in the 1970s

Remembering some wonderful moments from RFK Stadium in the 1970s.

Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK) holds lasting memories for so many of us.

The stadium is going to be the object of demolition, and then a renovation on the 190-acre property will result in an indoor sports complex as well as housing, pedestrian and bicycle bridges across the Anacostia River to connect residents to River Terrace, the RFK Campus, Hill East, and Kingman and Heritage Islands.

My first memories of RFK are the 1969 Redskin season

I was instantly hooked for life. Sonny Jurgensen, Larry Brown, Charley Taylor, Sam Huff, Chris Hanburger. All coached by then-legendary coach Vince Lombardi. I still recall those helmets with the spear.

1970 brought new uniforms with the R on the helmet, and George Allen stirred up the DMV during his years 1971-77. RFK became a real home-field advantage.

How will I ever forget the 1972 comeback to Dallas in RFK after being down 13-0 and 20-7 to win 24-20? The two playoff games at RFK that season brought two Washington victories including a 26-3 whooping of Dallas in the NFC Championship game.

The very next season (‘73) Brig Owens in the 4th quarter with his pick-six against Dallas on MNF, and Dallas still driving late only to be stopped at the 1-yard line by Ken Houston’s tackle of Walt Garrison.

Jurgensen led a late drive to defeat Miami 20-17 in 1974, and RFK was really rocking when the Burgundy and Gold were destroying Dallas 28-0, but then had to hold on to win only 28-21.

Overtime came to the NFL in 1975, and it was Washington who had three overtime games that first year, and two at RFK, beating Dallas 30-24 and losing to the Raiders 26-23.

The worst field conditions I ever saw at RFK were a 1976 MNF game in the rain against the Cardinals (an NFC divisional rival in those days). Eddie Brown’s 71-yard punt return touchdown will always be one of the greatest scoring plays in RFK history.

Interestingly, I recall George Allen’s last game as Washington’s coach. At RFK, it was a 17-14 victory over the LA Rams in the 1977 season finale, a Saturday afternoon contest. Allen finished his Washington coaching career (67-30-1 .691).

Jack Pardee coached Washington the 1978-1980 seasons. The ‘78 team started out 6-0 including a MNF win over Dallas at RFK 9-5, with President Jimmy Carter in attendance.

Earl Campbell and the Houston Oilers opened the season at RFK in 1979. Washington came up short 29-27. Also of note that season was the RFK game against the Cowboys when Pardee elected to have Mark Moseley kick a late field goal to give Washington a 34-20 victory. Dallas talked of Pardee running up the score.

If Daniel Snyder sells the Commanders, the RFK Stadium site could be back in play

Will the RFK Stadium site be back in play for the Commanders if Snyder sells the team?

Will Daniel Snyder actually sell the Washington Commanders? Wednesday’s news of Snyder hiring Bank of America to explore a possible sale shook the NFL world. Washington fans rejoiced while others could be described as cautiously optimistic.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has been all over the Snyder news from the beginning. On Wednesday, Florio brought up an interesting point regarding Snyder. Whoever buys the Commanders — if Snyder sells them — could be handed the RFK Stadium site.

This would be massive.

Florio wonders if Snyder’s failure to land a stadium deal may have sealed his fate with the other owners.

Here’s one theory, from someone who routinely moves in league circles. A new owner will likely be handed the site of RFK Stadium for the construction of a state-of-the-art facility in D.C. Snyder, on the other hand, has no chance of getting anything done. No public official, from either side of the aisle, will want to deal with him.

Many around the NFL believed Snyder was in an enviable position when it came to acquiring a new stadium. The Commanders should have had Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia all vying for a new stadium. Now, none want any part of Snyder. His failure to land a new stadium reportedly upset the other owners.

Washington mayor wants Commanders back in D.C.

Washington, D.C. mayor wants the Commanders back in D.C.

The Washington Football Team got a new name Wednesday. The WFT is now the Washington Commanders. The next step for Washington is continuing its efforts to build a new stadium.

But where?

Virginia appears to be the frontrunner, with either Loudoun County or Prince Williams County landing the new stadium. However, Maryland governor Larry Hogan wants to keep the Commanders in his state.

On Wednesday, shortly after Washington’s rebranding, Washington, D.C Mayor Muriel Bowser stated her case for the team returning to the district.

Washington, of course, enjoyed its greatest success playing in RFK Stadium from 1961-96. The stadium was located in southeast D.C., and Washington won three Super Bowls when it called RFK home.

In the past, Bowser said the team’s controversial former name was a roadblock for a potential new stadium. Now that Washington has a new name, could the nation’s capital bring the Commanders back to their original home?

The good news for the Commanders and the NFL is you have three interested parties therefore finding a new home shouldn’t be too difficult.