Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Josh Harris, managing partner of the Washington Commanders, have announced an agreement for the team’s return to the capital and the revitalization of 180 acres surrounding the RFK campus.

Huge investment involving multiple stakeholders

Thanks to a modern stadium with a roof, the team's return to D.C. will become a catalyst for transforming the entire area. New housing, recreational spaces and parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, and amenities for residents are planned. This is a breakthrough moment for the DMV region (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) and for the Washington Commanders team. RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history... said Josh Harris.

Under the agreement, the Commanders will invest at least $2.7 billion in constructing the year-round roofed stadium and additional improvements. This will be the largest private investment in Washington D.C.'s history. The city government will contribute $500 million for horizontal stadium costs (excluding structure), funded through the Sports Facilities Fee. These dedicated funds eliminate the need to cut the city’s operational budget.

The city will finance parking development through $175 million in revenue bonds, to be repaid from stadium operations after its opening. Events DC will contribute $181 million for constructing garages near local recreational facilities, which will be owned by the institution. As with other large investments like St. Elizabeths East, the city will also invest in public infrastructure and roads, budgeting $202 million and a WMATA transportation study. The RFK campus is easily accessible via public transport, and upon completion, the area will feature around 8,000 parking spaces serving visitors to all parts of the campus.

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More than just a stadium

The new stadium, which will seat around 65,000 spectators and is expected to open in 2030, will occupy only 11% of the campus. Thanks to its roof, it will operate year-round. Besides the stadium itself, the Commanders will be responsible for activating and developing the surrounding area, including restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, housing, green spaces, and other amenities. The entire campus aims to create 5,000 to 6,000 housing units, with at least 30% designated as affordable housing.

During construction, the city aims to maintain and continue activities at the popular RFK playing fields. Nearby, a new sports complex will be built to host youth events and tournaments throughout the year. The mayor's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes $89 million for this purpose.

Adjacent to the fields, recreation areas, and the sports complex, the city plans to establish a new Kingman Park district, which will feature housing, mixed-use buildings, open space, and recreation areas. During the RFK campus planning process, which includes all plots within the DC 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, residents will be able to submit feedback and suggestions. All lots in the Kingman Park district will go through the RFP (Request for Proposals) process, favoring local businesses.

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A homecoming decades in the making

As the city navigates a shifting economic landscape, the activation of the RFK campus through this agreement is expected to generate around 14,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs. The stadium and its surrounding investments are projected to deliver approximately $4 billion in tax revenues and generate over $15.6 billion in direct spending over 30 years.

In December 2024, after nearly a decade of Mayor Bowser's efforts to gain city control of the RFK campus, Congress passed the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. The act, signed in January 2025, allows for development on the land for various uses, lifting prior lease restrictions. It also mandates that 30% of the RFK campus be dedicated to parks and open space (excluding the 32-acre riverside strip along the Anacostia River).

The Washington Commanders are returning to Washington after playing 35 seasons at RFK Stadium, from 1961 to 1996. During that time, the team won three Super Bowl titles: XVII, XXII, and XXVI. The stadium also hosted five NFC Championship Games, all won by Washington, making the club the only one to win five NFC titles at a single venue. RFK truly was a fortress and helped define one of the most successful eras in the team's history. In 1997, the team moved to Commanders Field.

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