The path for the NFL’s Washington Commanders to return to the nation’s capital is clear after an on-again, off-again saga in Congress ended early Saturday with a post-midnight reprieve. The US Senate passed a resolution to transfer the land including old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia. The DC Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act passed by voice vote at roughly 1.15am after more than a year of lobbying and support from Representative James Comer, district Mayor Muriel Bowser, Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington DC, the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK Stadium site,” Harris said. “This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans.”.
The RFK Stadium land provision was part of Congress’ initial short-term spending bill Tuesday before it was torpedoed by US president-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the latter of whom amplified misinformation about the site on his social media platform X. Two versions of the House’s slimmed-down bill, including the one that passed Friday night to avoid a government shutdown, did not include it.
Giving the local government control of the land for the next 99 years allows for the decaying husk of the old stadium to be torn down and the site redeveloped for any number of things. One of the possibilities is a football stadium and surrounding entertainment options at the franchise’s former home.
