Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the state provided an offer for the Washington Commanders to remain in Landover, but figured the ownership group all along was determined to move back to D.C. An agreement between the to build a new stadium and redevelop the RFK Stadium site was announced on Monday. The $4 billion project is still pending council approval in D.C. The stadium plan includes a roof, which will allow events to be held year-round. The project will also add housing and jobs to the area around the Anacostia River. "In the conversations, early conversations, with the new ownership group of the Washington Commanders, you were not just going to leave Maryland with an RFK stadium," Moore said on Monday. The Commanders are contributing $2.7 billion, with the city investing roughly $1.1 billion over the next eight years for the stadium, housing, green space, and a Sportsplex on 170 acres of land. The stadium itself will take up just 16 of those acres. "I think that providing a billion dollars of taxpayer money, even if the Commanders are paying two-thirds of it, is absolute welfare for billionaires," said Chris Lancette, from Silver Spring. The team and the D.C. mayor announced the move
in a video posted on social media, narrated by Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann, who spoke about his experience playing at RFK Stadium and how the new one will benefit the city. "Let's bring the Commanders home," Theismann said. "The time is now. Let's bring Washington back to D.C." City and team officials, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, unveiled the plans at an event at the National Press Club in front of a backdrop reading, "Welcome home." Mambo Sauce's "Welcome to DC" blared from speakers as Goodell, Bowser and controlling owner Josh Harris entered to cheers.
What's next for the current stadium?
Some in Maryland may question what comes next for the team's current stadium in Prince George's County. Gov. Moore was very clear and said he told the owners of the team they needed to help redevelop that 200-acre swath of land where the current stadium is located. Gov. Moore said state leaders and the Commanders have already discussed some ways to reimagine the stadium in Landover after the team's departure. He added that the team's owners will be responsible for the teardown and will serve as lead developers on the new project. "It's something that's going to be a real, live, work, play environment, where we are going to involve things like housing. We're going to involve things like entertainment that's going to be an attraction," Moore said. "We're going to make sure that we're having community involvement as well… The only promise I make to the community, it's going to be better than what it is right now." The governor said the plan will ensure that the state "will not be left with another RFK Stadium." Gov. Moore said state leaders and the Commanders have already discussed some ways to reimagine the stadium in Landover after the team's departure. "Currently, we have a nearly 200-acre property that gets used eight times a year for a few hours, and I have said from my earliest days as governor that the people of the area deserve better," Moore said.
Commanders' departure agreement
The Commanders' home stadium is currently the Northwest Stadium in Landover, formerly FedEx Field. According to the governor, Maryland executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the Commanders, which outlined requirements if the team moves to Washington, D.C. The Commanders also committed to collaborating with the state and the local community on a redevelopment plan for Northwest Stadium. The Commanders also committed to collaborating with the state and the local community on a redevelopment plan for Northwest Stadium.
Sports fans react to the potential move
WJZ spoke to sports fans who are split on this plan. Some say they enjoy going to games in Maryland, while others believe it will be more convenient in Washington, D.C. "I think a lot of people think Virginia people will be happy, but that's not the case. We like it in Landover. We like going out there tailgating," said Allie Varela, who is from Northern Virginia. "It should be much easier to access than the Landover site," added Joe Welch, from Leesburg, Va. "I don't think anyone really enjoyed having to walk a mile from the Metro and have to deal with that much parking. I'm happy about it."
Commanders' push for a new stadium
Commanders' ownership has been considering places in Washington, Maryland and Virginia since
buying the team from Dan Snyder in 2022. The most recent progress came when
Congress passed a bill transferring the RFK Stadium land to D.C. that was signed by former President Joe Biden
in early January , after
lobbying on Capitol Hill by Harris and Goodell late last year. Washington has played in Landover, Maryland, since moving there in 1997. The Commanders' lease at Northwest Stadium in Landover runs through 2027.
Harris has called 2030 a "reasonable target" for a new stadium. The team played at RFK Stadium, 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) east of the U.S. Capitol, from 1961-96 before moving to Maryland.
Harris and several co-owners , including Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, grew up as Washington football fans during that era, which included the glory days of three Super Bowl championships from 1982-91.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting. Tara Lynch is an Emmy-nominated reporter who is excited to share the stories of Baltimore.
