The U.S. Senate has passed a bill transferring control of the old RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia, potentially paving the way for the Washington Commanders to return to the nation's capital.

A return to the capital among the options

This decision came after removing a provision from a short-term budget bill that would have handed control of the site from the federal government to D.C. Governor Wes Moore, in an interview with News4, called the bill the right move and the quickest, most efficient way to improve the fan experience. Moore noted that the legislation opens the door for Maryland to compete to keep the Commanders.

The Washington Commanders are exploring potential stadium locations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia as they plan for a new home in the coming years. Their current lease at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, runs through 2027, and team co-owner Josh Harris has identified 2030 as a realistic target for the completion of a new stadium.

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The team played at RFK Stadium, located two miles east of the U.S. Capitol, from 1961 to 1996 before relocating to Maryland. Harris and several co-owners, including Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, grew up as Washington football fans during the team’s glory years, which included three Super Bowl championships between 1982 and 1991.

A chance for a modern stadium

The legislation shifts administrative jurisdiction over the RFK site from the Secretary of the Interior to the D.C. government. While the land will remain federal property, D.C. will now be able to develop it for stadium use, commercial and residential projects, and other public purposes, according to U.S. Representative James Comer’s office. Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced the bill. The Senate’s approval of the RFK Stadium Campus Revitalization Act is a historic moment for our nation’s capital, Comer said in a statement.

Maryland’s push to keep the Commanders

Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey, whose district includes the Northwest Stadium, has proposed plans to retain the Commanders by building a new stadium in Prince George’s County near the current one, alongside surrounding development. In a statement, Ivey said, Maryland should have the opportunity to compete to keep the Commanders here [...] Our location offers two nearby Metro stations, excellent highway access, and more land for parking. By working closely with Harris’s team—who own much of the land around the stadium—we can create a cost-effective solution that benefits the community, the region, the team, and fans. Maryland looks forward to working with the Commanders to make this vision a reality.

Elon Musk, the entrepreneur and founder or co-founder of companies such as PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, opposed the idea of building a new facility. This should not be funded by your tax dollars! Musk stated on X, the platform he owns.

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