Washington Commanders Stadium – design description

How can the new Washington Commanders stadium project be briefly summarized?

During the debate over a new stadium for the Washington Commanders, several locations were proposed, but the stadium will ultimately be built on the team’s preferred site – the grounds of the former RFK Stadium, where the franchise played in the past and celebrated its greatest triumphs.

Its prime location along the same axis as the Capitol and the Washington Monument, combined with the high costs (the stadium will be one of the most expensive in the world), makes this project extremely prestigious and has drawn the involvement of U.S. presidents.

Top-tier architects have been engaged in designing the arena. The plan calls for a modern, fully covered stadium with a capacity of 70,000 spectators, referencing the silhouette of the former RFK Stadium as well as the classical architecture of Washington, D.C. Construction is scheduled for 2027–2030.

Why do the Washington Commanders need a new stadium?

The NFL team Washington Commanders (known as the Washington Redskins until 2019) has played since 1997 at the then newly built Northwest Stadium (later known for many years as FedEx Field). The stadium is located in Landover, Maryland, on the eastern outskirts of Washington, D.C.

For a time, Northwest Stadium was even the largest in the NFL, but a series of capacity reductions brought it down to just over 60,000 seats, making it one of the smallest stadiums in the league today.

Although still relatively new, the stadium increasingly lags behind its competitors, and a range of flaws and image missteps have led it to be considered one of the worst stadiums in the NFL. Its lease expires in 2027, which is why discussions about where the Commanders will play in the future have been ongoing for some time.

What were the previous ideas for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders?

The debate over a new stadium for the Washington Commanders has been ongoing for more than a decade, with the first concrete proposals emerging in 2016.

A specific aspect of this debate is worth noting: the Washington metropolitan area, beyond the federal district itself, extends into two neighboring states – Virginia and Maryland. The authorities of each of these jurisdictions had a vested interest in hosting an NFL franchise, which led to additional negotiations and competing relocation proposals.

Could the Washington Commanders have remained in the state of Maryland?

The Commanders (then still known as the Redskins) initially planned to build a new stadium in the southern suburb of Oxon Hill, located in the state of Maryland. A concept for a new stadium at this site was prepared in 2016 by the architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).

What were the first plans for the Washington Commanders’ return to the District of Columbia?

In April 2016, Events DC presented a plan for a new stadium to replace RFK Stadium. The proposal was very preliminary in nature and served as a response to the Oxon Hill stadium concept unveiled the previous month.

Could the Washington Commanders have moved to Virginia?

A relocation to the neighboring state of Virginia was also considered. In 2022, reports emerged that the Commanders had purchased land in Woodbridge, located about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Washington, D.C. Visualizations were also released for a fully covered stadium that was planned for this site.

How did the plans to build a new stadium on the site of RFK Stadium emerge?

Although stadium projects were considered at various locations, the option preferred by the Commanders (Redskins) was a return to RFK Stadium – or, more precisely, the construction of a new venue on its site. The team played there from 1961 to 1996, before relocating to Landover, and won three Super Bowls during that period (1983, 1988 and 1992).

What steps were taken to enable the construction of a new stadium on the site of RFK Stadium?

In 2017, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the renewal of the lease for the land on which RFK Stadium stood. The site is owned by the federal government.

The lease was to be renewed under new terms granting the city greater control over the property. The revised conditions would, among other things, allow the land to be used for commercial or residential purposes, opening up new investment opportunities intended to help generate funding for the stadium project.

Renewing the lease required approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which was not granted until 2024. On January 6, 2025, outgoing President Joe Biden signed the relevant legislation as one of his final acts in office, bringing the lengthy legislative process to a close.

What vision did the new owner of the Washington Commanders have for the future?

In the meantime, another significant development took place. In July 2023, the Washington Commanders were purchased from their previous owner, Dan Snyder, by a group led by investor Josh Harris. The transaction was completed for $6.05 billion, making it the most expensive sports franchise acquisition in history.

Josh Harris supported the construction of a new stadium on the site of RFK Stadium, while not ruling out other locations.

Could a National Stadium have been built on the RFK Stadium site?

In January 2025, visualizations of a proposed “RFK National Stadium” circulated in the media. The concept, which envisioned replacing the old stadium, was developed by the small studio KATO Design. According to its authors, the proposal was created independently as a contribution to the public discussion about the future of the site.

The ambitious design prepared by KATO Design stood out for its high level of professionalism and was frequently used as an illustration in discussions about a new stadium for the Commanders. Its scale and bold vision attracted considerable attention and helped fuel expectations surrounding the future investment.

The concept envisioned an arena that would also serve as a U.S. national stadium—an idea that had been discussed as early as before World War II but was never realized. Wood was adopted as the primary structural material, and the stadium was to be fully covered by a transparent dome with a distinctive and iconic form.

What did the former RFK Stadium look like?

RFK Stadium was built in 1960–1961 in a distinctive circular form, typical of so-called “cookie-cutter stadiums,” featuring movable sections of seating that allowed the venue to be converted between American football and baseball configurations.

The stadium was constructed in the eastern part of Washington, D.C., near Kingman Lake and the Anacostia River, aligned on the same axis as the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial.

For many years, the venue served as a fortress of the Commanders (Redskins), but it also hosted other Washington-based sports teams as well as a wide range of events, including matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and major music concerts.

What happened to RFK Stadium?

From 2019 onward, the aging stadium remained unused. In late 2022 and early 2023, the dismantling of some of its elements began, initially without affecting the building’s main structure. Full-scale demolition works started in early 2025 and are scheduled to be completed in 2026.

When did the city and the Washington Commanders reach an agreement on building a new stadium?

On April 28, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the formation of a partnership between the city and the team to build a new stadium on the RFK site. The agreement defined, among other things, the financial framework of the investment.

Plans for the construction of the new stadium were approved by the Council of the District of Columbia following a vote on September 17, 2025.

When was the concept for the new Washington Commanders stadium developed?

On November 13, 2025, the Washington Commanders announced that HKS would be responsible for the design of the new stadium. The firm is known for its work on modern NFL venues such as SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and U.S. Bank Stadium. The first renderings of the new Commanders stadium by HKS were released on January 15, 2025.

What does the new Washington Commanders stadium project include?

The new stadium will take the form of a compact structure, fully covered by a transparent roof. The exterior facade will be defined by distinctive reinforced-concrete colonnades, with the spaces between the columns filled with glass walls. The stadium’s capacity is planned at 70,000 spectators.

The building will be taller on the northern and southern sides, creating a gently undulating roofline shaped in a saddle-like form. Large glazed entrances will be located on the eastern and western sides, similar to those at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium.

The overall form of the venue – including the flowing roof contours and the colonnade surrounding the facade – will reference the characteristic curves of the former RFK Stadium. The monumental colonnade will also serve as a nod to Washington’s classical architecture.

The stadium’s location is significant: it will be positioned on the same axis as the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Thanks to its east–west orientation, the building will align with the city’s distinctive urban layout as defined by the L’Enfant Plan.

A mixed-use development is planned around the stadium, combining residential, dining, retail, hotel, and office functions. At least 30% of the area is to be dedicated to publicly accessible green recreational spaces.

Who will the new Washington Commanders stadium serve?

The stadium will primarily serve the Washington Commanders, but its role will extend beyond hosting NFL games. The venue is intended to function as a multi-purpose arena capable of accommodating a wide range of sporting and cultural events. The fully enclosed design will significantly facilitate event organization, with more than 200 events expected to be held at the stadium annually.

When will the new Washington Commanders stadium be built?

Preliminary work is scheduled to begin in 2026, following the completion of the RFK Stadium demolition. Full construction is expected to start in 2027, with completion planned for 2030.

How much will the new Washington Commanders stadium cost?

The estimated total cost of the project is $3.8 billion, of which $2.7 billion (plus potential overruns) will be provided by the Commanders, and $1.1 billion by the District of Columbia government. The high cost of the investment will place the stadium among the most expensive sports venues in the world.

What connection does Donald Trump have to the new Washington Commanders stadium?

The construction of the Commanders’ stadium will be an extremely costly and prestigious project. The plan has attracted the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who surprisingly stated that the new stadium should be built if the Commanders return to the Redskins name, and also suggested that the venue could be named after him.

The new stadium project also aligns with Trump’s initiatives aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the U.S. capital.

What will the new Washington Commanders stadium be called?

Although Donald Trump suggested the stadium could bear his name, it is far more likely that it will receive a commercial name. Preliminary analyses indicate that the sale of naming rights for the new Commanders stadium could become the most lucrative naming rights deal in history, with a potential value of up to $1 billion.