$2.7 Billion Investment From the Commanders Is the Single Largest Private Investment in District History
(Washington, DC) – Today, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders Josh Harris announced a deal to bring the team home and activate 180 acres of opportunity at the RFK campus. With a state-of-the-art roofed stadium, the team’s return to DC will catalyze and complement the transformation of the entire campus to include housing, parks and recreation, hotels, restaurants, retail, and neighborhood amenities.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the Sports Capital. 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,” said Mayor Bowser. “When we got control of 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia, we knew right away that partnering with the Commanders would be the fastest and surest route to bringing the RFK campus to life. As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7.”
“Today is a defining moment for the DMV and the Washington Commanders. 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,” said Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders Josh Harris. “Working hand-in-hand with District and community leaders, we’re focused on delivering an incredible home for our players and fans, creating a landmark venue that reflects the pride of our nation’s capital, and sparking a new era of economic opportunity across the DMV. RFK was once a place our fans loved, and opponents feared – we’re determined to make it that way again.”
Under the terms of the deal, the Commanders will drive the investment of at least $2.7 billion to build a roofed stadium that can be used year-round, together with related improvements, making this the single largest private investment in DC’s history. DC Government (the District) will invest $500 million for stadium horizontal and non-vertical costs from the Sports Facilities Fee (formerly known as the Ballpark Fee). By leveraging dedicated funds from the Sports Facilities 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. Additionally, similar to other large development projects such as St. Elizabeths East, the District will invest in utilities infrastructure and roadways at the site. The District will invest $202 million for utilities infrastructure, roadways, and a WMATA transit study.
“Some of my earliest football memories growing up in the District were going to games at RFK Stadium. It’s time to bring the Commanders home,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We are grateful for Josh Harris’ vision and determination and the leadership of Mayor Bowser in moving this transformational project forward. This world-class stadium will not only be an exciting site for NFL games and events in an iconic location but it will also be a community asset and an economic driver.”
The approximately 65,000-seat stadium, which is expected to open in 2030, will occupy only 11% of the site, and because the stadium will have a roof it will be able to host events year-round. 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, green space, and more.
The entire campus is expected to create approximately 5,000-6,000 housing units, including at least 30% affordable housing.
Throughout the construction process, the District will seek to preserve and continue to operate the popular Fields at RFK. Additionally, near the fields, the District will build a new sportsplex that will host year-round sporting events and tournaments for youth in DC. The Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal includes $89 million for the sportsplex.
Adjacent to the fields, park space, and sportsplex, the District will develop a new Kingman Park District which will include housing, mixed-use development, and open space and recreational space. During the campus planning effort, which includes taking all the development parcels through the DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, community members and neighbors will have an opportunity to weigh in on what types of uses would best serve the community. All parcels in the Kingman Park District will go through the District’s RFP process and prioritize local businesses.
The RFK Campus is readily accessible by many public transit options and the entire campus at full buildout will have approximately 8,000 parking spots, which also will be used by visitors to the rest of the campus.
At a time when the District is focused on responding to a shifting economy, the activation of the RFK campus through this deal is expected to create approximately 14,000 jobs in connection to the stadium construction alone and 2,000 permanent jobs, and 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.
In December 2024, after nearly a decade of Mayor Bowser advocating to get the RFK campus under District control, Congress passed the DC Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. The legislation, which was signed into law in January 2025, gave the District the ability to develop the long-underutilized space for a mix of uses, lifting the restrictions that were in place under the previous lease. The legislation also required that 30% of the RFK campus be reserved for parks and open space, not including a 32-acre riparian area along the Anacostia River.
The Washington Commanders are returning to Washington, DC after playing at RFK Stadium for 35 seasons, from 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. RFK Stadium provided a true home field advantage that helped define one of the most successful eras in franchise history.
The District has a successful history of using catalytic sports investments to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant neighborhoods, including in Chinatown-Gallery Place with Capital One Arena (originally the MCI Center) in the 1990s and 2000s, Capitol Riverfront with Nationals Park in the 2000s and 2010s, and St. Elizabeths East with the CareFirst Arena (originally the Entertainment and Sports Arena) in the past decade. During her time in elected office, the Mayor has worked on deals for Audi Field, the CareFirst Arena, the renovation of Capital One Arena, and now a partnership with the Washington Commanders.
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