House passes RFK revitalization bill, opening possibility for Commanders return

The House voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would allow D.C. to redevelop the old RFK site, a move widely seen as opening the door for construction of a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.

The RFK Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which would enter D.C. into a 99-year lease of the site, passed the House on a 348-55 vote and will now head to the Senate.

“This bill is a win-win for the federal and D.C. governments,” said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who’s co-sponsoring the bill alongside Rep. James Comer, R-KY.

Aside from Rep. Jamie Raskin, who did not vote, every member of the Maryland delegation voted against the bill. The Virginia delegation was more mixed, with six members voting yes, four voting no and one not voting.

Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey spoke against the RFK revitalization act.

“Like other members of the Maryland delegation, I believe Prince George’s County in Maryland should be able to compete on a level playing field to keep the Washington Commanders, but this bill would give an unfair advantage to D.C.,” Ivey said. “It’s most certainly not a level playing field when one interested jurisdiction receives a free transfer of federal government subsidized land.”

Norton responded to Ivey’s comments by citing the National Park Service’s $23 billion maintenance backlog, saying the agency does not have the money to transform the RFK site from acres of asphalt into parks or mixed-use land.

She acknowledged that while D.C. will not pay the federal government for control of the site itself, the city will invest into the property.

“It is expected D.C. will spend hundreds of millions of dollars transforming the site from acres of asphalt into mixed-use development. This bill would not require a stadium to be built at the site. Whether to build a stadium would be a decision for the elected D.C. government. Several members of the D.C. Council have expressed opposition to a new football stadium at the site,” Norton said.

Major League Soccer side D.C. United was the last professional sports team to play at RFK in 2017. The stadium was eventually scheduled to be demolished, though no date has been set.

The NFL’s Washington Commanders, now under new ownership, have been exploring options for a new home. The team is contractually obligated to play at its current stadium in Landover, Maryland, through 2027. On Tuesday, team ownership said it planned to dedicate around $75 million for upgrades to the facility.

The Commanders have long supported the effort to get control of the RFK site back into the hands of D.C. while also pursuing potential sites in Northern Virginia. Meanwhile, in Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore is urging the team to stay in Prince George’s County and has led efforts to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the surrounding area.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a supporter of the legislation, thanked legislators in a statement for advancing the bill through the House.

“Tonight’s vote was a significant step forward in our efforts to unlock the full potential of the RFK Campus — for our residents and visitors, the community, and DC’s Comeback,” Bowser said. “We look forward to working with the Senate to swiftly advance this legislation.”