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New Stadium at RFK Campus

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Coordinates: 38°53′24″N 76°58′19″W / 38.89°N 76.9719°W / 38.89; -76.9719
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New Stadium at RFK Campus
New Commanders Stadium
Conceptual rendering by HKS
New Stadium at RFK Campus is located in Washington, D.C.
New Stadium at RFK Campus
Location near the Anacostia River
New Stadium at RFK Campus is located in the District of Columbia
New Stadium at RFK Campus
Location in Washington, D.C.
New Stadium at RFK Campus is located in the United States
New Stadium at RFK Campus
Location in the United States
Address2400 East Capitol Street SE
LocationWashington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates38°53′24″N 76°58′19″W / 38.89°N 76.9719°W / 38.89; -76.9719
OwnerDistrict of Columbia
OperatorWashington Commanders
Capacity65,000
TypeMulti-purpose stadium
Events
RoofTranslucent
SurfaceGrass
Height195 feet (59 m)
Field size
120 by 53.3 yards (110 m × 49 m)
Public transit
Parking~8,000
Construction
Groundbreaking2027; 1 year's time (2027) (planned)
Opened2030; 4 years' time (2030) (planned)
Construction cost
US$3.8 billion
ArchitectHKS
Tenants
Washington Commanders (NFL) (c. 2030)
Website
Commanders.com

New Stadium at RFK Campus is the project name for an indoor multi-purpose stadium in Washington, D.C. scheduled to open in 2030. It will serve as the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders and host other sports and public events. The stadium will replace the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium—home of the team from 1961 to 1996—at its site along the Anacostia River in the city's Hill East neighborhood.

New Stadium at RFK Campus will seat 65,000 and was designed by the architectural firm HKS, featuring a neoclassical-inspired colonnade exterior and a translucent roof allowing for climate control and natural lighting. It will be among the most expensive stadiums built at a projected US$3.8 billion when including adjacent residential, retail, and hospitality development. The stadium will be managed by the Commanders and owned by the District of Columbia.

History

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See also: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
RFK Stadium and its campus in the 1980s. The Washington Monument and US Capitol are visible in the background.

In 2012, the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders, then known as the Redskins, initiated a search for the site of a new stadium to replace Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The team considered Oxon Cove Park in Maryland and Sterling, Dumfries, and Woodbridge in Virginia,[1][2][3] but ultimately desired the location of the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.[4][5] The stadium previously hosted the team's home games from its opening in 1961 until 1996 and had been considered the "spiritual home" of the Commanders by team ownership.[6] Due to its age and condition, it closed in 2019 and [[Deconstruction (building)|deconstructed] in 2025.[7] New Stadium at RFK Campus is expected to open in 2030.[8] Initial work on infrastructure began in April 2026, with the official groundbreaking set for early 2027.[9]

The land surrounding RFK Stadium had been managed by the National Park Service, a federal agency of the US Department of the Interior, since the District of Columbia Stadium Act of 1957 (H.R. 1937). On July 27, 2023, Congress introduced the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act (H.R. 4984), which proposed transferring control to the DC city government through a 99-year lease and permitting mixed-use development. The act was passed by the House of Representatives on February 28, 2024, and the Senate on December 21, 2024, with president Joe Biden signing it into law on January 6, 2025.[10][11][12] On April 28, 2025, DC mayor Muriel Bowser, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and Commanders owner Josh Harris held a joint press conference announcing the RFK Campus as the site of a new stadium.[13][14] In July 2025, U.S. president Donald Trump suggested blocking the deal unless the Commanders returned to the Redskins branding and later stated a desire for the stadium to be named after him.[15][16] The project was tentatively approved by the DC Council in August 2025, with another vote finalizing it the following month.[6]

Financing

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New Stadium at RFK Campus is projected to cost US$3.8 billion, ranking it among the most expensive stadiums ever constructed.[5] The stadium will be financed through a public–private partnership, with it managed by the Commanders and owned by the city.[17][18] The Commanders are slated to contribute $2.7 billion for stadium construction, a parking garage, and any additional cost overrun, with DC spending $500 million on infrastructure by way of the Sports Facilities Fee, $356 million on another parking garage by way of Events DC bonds, and $202 million on public utilities by way of general taxes.[5][8][19] New Stadium at RFK Campus will make use of personal seat licenses (PSL).[20] The city is planning for an expansion of the nearby Stadium–Armory Metrorail station and a new Metrobus rapid transit line mirroring the route of the former DC Streetcar to reduce traffic congestion and reliance on parking around the stadium.[21] The Commanders will collect ticket and parking revenue from events with DC anticipating over $5 billion in sales taxes over 30 years.[8][22][23] Around 8,000 parking spots will be available on opening day, with 75% from the two parking garages and the remaining as surface lots.[24]

Design

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Conceptualized interior. The western end of the stadium is being designed to align with views of the U.S. Capitol down East Capitol Street.

New Stadium at RFK Campus is being designed by the architectural firm HKS, featuring a neoclassical-inspired colonnade exterior and a large anticlastic translucent roof allowing for climate control and natural lighting.[25][26] It will have an seating capacity of 65,000 with an additional 5,000 in standing-room only.[27] The stadium is expected to host up to 200 additional events annually, such as concerts, Olympic events, college sports, exhibition soccer and rugby events, and national celebrations, and is in consideration to host Super Bowl LXV and the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup final.[22][28][29] The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team Washington Spirit have been suggested as an additional tenant.[17]

New Stadium at RFK Campus is being constructed on the former site of RFK Stadium at 2400 East Capitol Street SE along the west bank of the Anacostia River and Kingman Lake.[6][8] It will be embedded into the ground and fused with RFK's original foundation, with the top level of seating below 130 ft (40 m) to comply with DC's Height of Buildings Act.[25][30] The site was historically considered an eastern gateway into Capitol Hill and downtown DC, lying adjacent to the DC Armory and aligned with the city's L'Enfant Plan monumental axis approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the United States Capitol and National Mall.[31] C Street and Independence Avenue run along the stadium's northern and southern edges respectively and converge at the Whitney Young Memorial Bridge directly to the east to continue East Capitol Street.[32][33] The Commanders will retain their football operations and training facility in Ashburn, Virginia and move their corporate headquarters near the stadium.[19] It is unknown whether Northwest Federal Credit Union, which sponsors their current home venue, will retain naming rights.[13]

Mixed-use development

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Design plan for the stadium site showing adjacent mixed-use development

New Stadium at RFK Campus will anchor about 180 acres (0.73 km2) of surrounding mixed-use development featuring housing, dining, retail, hotels, and offices.[8][19] The Commanders are to oversee the development of the Plaza and Riverfront districts.[8] The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will manage the Recreation district, adding a $89 million indoor track and gymnasium to the existing Fields at RFK recreation center,[33] the Kingman Park district, which will expand upon the bordering Kingman Park residential neighborhood, and the Anacostia Commons, a protected riparian area containing a large section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail with plans for an amphitheater and environmental education center to be built along with additional access points to Kingman and Heritage Islands.[8] Around 6,000 residences are expected to be built across the Plaza, Riverfront, and Kingman Park districts, with 30% designated as affordable.[34] A third of the stadium's campus will be dedicated to green space, with plans to preserve as many local heritage trees as possible during construction.[35] A large grass plaza west of the stadium will host public festivals, markets, performances, and other community events.[36] Phased zoning approvals have delayed most district construction until after the stadium opens in 2030, with development expected to continue through 2040.[8][34]

References

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  1. ^ Broom, Scott (December 10, 2018). "The possible Redskins stadium site you've never heard of". WUSA9. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  2. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki; Vozzella, Laura (February 25, 2022). "Commanders eye three possible sites in Virginia for new stadium, entertainment complex". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  3. ^ Keim, John (May 23, 2022). "Source: Washington Commanders spend $100 million on land in Virginia for possible stadium". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  4. ^ O'Connell, Jonathan; Heath, Thomas (August 29, 2014). "Redskins, Olympic backers both eye new stadium at RFK". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Aldridge, David; Jhabvala, Nicki (May 7, 2026). "How the Commanders returned to D.C.: The wild, unlikely saga of a years-long journey home". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c Gathright, Jenny (September 17, 2025). "D.C.'s $3.7 billion Commanders stadium deal gets final council approval". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  7. ^ Domingo, Ida (January 12, 2025). "RFK Stadium demolition to begin late January, officials say". WJLA-TV. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Gathright, Jenny; Flynn, Meagan (September 18, 2025). "The Washington Commanders stadium is coming to D.C. Here's what to expect". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  9. ^ Doran, John (March 30, 2026). "Commanders managing partner Josh Harris says stadium construction is on track". WUSA9. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  10. ^ Adragna, Anthony (February 28, 2024). "House passes bill transferring control of RFK Stadium site to DC, enabling possible Commanders redevelopment". Politico. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  11. ^ Whyno, Stephen (December 21, 2024). "Senate passes RFK Stadium land bill, giving the Washington Commanders a major off-the-field win". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  12. ^ Whyno, Stephen (January 6, 2025). "Biden signs RFK Stadium land bill into law, a step toward potential Commanders stadium in Washington". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Flynn, Meagan; Fortier, Sam; Jhabvala (April 28, 2025). "D.C., Commanders announce $3.7B deal to move team to RFK Stadium site". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Standig, Ben; Aldridge, David (April 27, 2025). "D.C. mayor announces Commanders will build new stadium in nation's capital". The Athletic. The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Stein, Rob (July 20, 2025). "Trump threatens to derail Washington Commanders' new stadium deal over team name". NPR. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Van Natta Jr., Don; Schefter, Adam (November 8, 2025). "Sources: Trump wants Commanders' new D.C. stadium named for him". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Jhabvala, Nicki; Maske, Mark (April 28, 2025). "Commanders' stadium plans could put D.C. in the Super Bowl mix". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Term Sheet For the Redevelopment of a Portion of the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Campus" (PDF). documentcloud.org. April 28, 2025. p. 8. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  19. ^ a b c McCormick, Bret (August 1, 2025). "Commanders potential RFK Stadium project passes first D.C. Council vote". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  20. ^ Abraham, Scott (April 28, 2025). "The PSL-era will arrive with a new Commanders stadium in DC". WJLA-TV. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  21. ^ Murillo, Mike (May 12, 2026). "No new Metro station planned for RFK Stadium site, but new Gold Line bus service proposed to handle crowds". WTOP. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Commanders $3.7B stadium project gets D.C. City Council OK". Reuters. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  23. ^ Dil, Cuneyt (September 17, 2025). "D.C. approves $3.7 billion RFK Stadium project for Commanders". Axios. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  24. ^ "NCPC Preliminary Review" (PDF). ncpc.gov. National Capital Planning Commission. February 27, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  25. ^ a b Jhabvala, Nicki (January 15, 2026). "Commanders' new stadium renderings depict an homage to the team's past". The Athletic. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  26. ^ Spiegel, Anna; Cuneyt, Dil (January 15, 2026). "What architecture experts like — and don't — about Commanders' stadium designs". Axios. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  27. ^ Edholm, Eric (January 15, 2026). "Commanders unveil initial renderings of new roofed stadium at RFK site". NFL.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  28. ^ "Washington Commanders and HKS Unveil Initial Renderings of New World-Class Stadium". HKS. January 15, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  29. ^ Dil, Cuneyt (September 24, 2025). "D.C. hopes to land 2031 Super Bowl at redeveloped RFK Stadium". Axios. Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  30. ^ Neibauer, Michael (September 10, 2025). "Height Act won't limit Commanders stadium dome, D.C. zoning administrator rules". Washington Business Journal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  31. ^ O'Gorek, Elizabeth (February 14, 2025). "Mayor: NFL Stadium Fastest Route to RFK Development". Hill Rag. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025. The charge that we would give any architect that works with us is that this stadium will be on the monumental axis in the nation's capital that's built on the L'Enfant Plan
  32. ^ Allen, Ike (April 28, 2025). "What to Know About the $3.6 Billion New Commanders Stadium Plan". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  33. ^ a b Stark, Cortlynn (August 17, 2019). "While stadium rusts away, newly opened Fields at RFK offers a glimpse into site's future". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  34. ^ a b Dil, Cuneyt (September 22, 2025). "RFK Stadium neighborhood delayed beyond 2030". Axios. Archived from the original on September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  35. ^ Caraballo, Marina; Rodriguez, Francisco (September 23, 2025). "Commanders Promise to Preserve Some of RFK Stadium's Heritage Trees". Washington City Paper. Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  36. ^ Jonas Roche, Daniel (April 29, 2026). "OJB shares landscape plans for Washington Commanders stadium". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
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