It’s the debate raging across D.C.: How much money should DC taxpayers give the Washington Commanders to move back to RFK? Even the team’s biggest boosters should be seriously concerned about the proposed deal. It gives too much away, gets too little back, and lacks an ambitious vision for how our city needs to grow.
As proposed, D.C. taxpayers would pay at least $1.1 billion for the stadium over the next few years, the second-largest taxpayer subsidy for a stadium in American history. Taxpayers would spend millions to overbuild parking lots and garages, while the deal doesn’t put a dime into Metro. But the deal also includes the following, not reflected in that total:
The Commanders’ billionaire investment team would get development rights for more than half of the 180 acres of the site for $4 per year, pay zero property taxes and no rent on stadium or parking;
Sales tax at the stadium would pay for stadium upgrades and bonds rather than schools, public safety, housing and…
