The Washington Commanders agreed to a deal with the District of Columbia to build a new stadium at the site of RFK Stadium, the club and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced Monday.
"We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the sports capital," Bowser said in a statement Monday. "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."
The new stadium will have a capacity of roughly 65,000 seats. It will also have a roof, unlike the Commanders' current stadium, so it can have events all year long. Bowser is optimistic a new stadium would help attract major sporting events such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, and major concerts.
Primary owner Josh Harris previously mentioned his desire to open a new stadium by 2030, which is now the expected opening year for the new building. The Commanders' contract to play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, runs through 2027. The club has the flexibility to extend the deal until the completion of a new stadium since it owns both the stadium and land.
The Commanders will invest $2.7 billion into the project. Government funding, bonds, and other investors are expected to contribute more than $1 billion combined for the stadium, parking, and the surrounding area.
The Commanders considered the potential of remaining in Landover and building a new venue at the site of their current stadium. Virginia was also considered but wasn't considered a viable option as the decision-making process developed. The team has practiced in Ashburn, Virginia, dating back to 1992.
Washington's NFL franchise played at RFK Stadium from 1961-96, winning three Super Bowls.
The Commanders are coming off one of the most successful seasons in nearly three decades. They finished 2024 with a 12-5 record, making it to the NFC Championship Game behind rising quarterback Jayden Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn.