A bill to give D.C. officials administrative control of the RFK Stadium site on a 99-year lease passed through the Senate via unanimous consent early Saturday morning. The move has been widely described as a successful Hail Mary after legislators removed the proposal from a continuing resolution bill earlier this week.
The legislation allows for the city to control the site and use it for sports, housing, recreation or retail. The flashiest option for the 174-acre campus, though, would feature a luxurious new stadium to lure the Washington Commanders and other top sporting events back to the District.
The Senate’s unexpected move drew widespread praise from local officials on Saturday morning.
“This is a win for D.C., for our region, and America,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on X. “Everybody loves a good comeback story — and that’s D.C.’s story.”
While the move could pave the way for the Commanders’ return to the city, team owner Josh Harris has been reluctant to commit to any jurisdiction. The team is openly courting deals in Maryland as well, where the team has played since 1997.
“We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington D.C. the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK stadium site,” Harris said in a statement. “This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans.”
Despite misinformation spread by X owner Elon Musk, the legislation does not include any funds for a new stadium. Instead, it transfers administrative control from the federal government to city officials. It does include some restrictions, such as reserving at least 30% of the site for parks and open spaces and barring construction directly on the Anacostia River waterfront.
When the legislation looked primed to pass earlier this week, D.C. officials and many Commanders fans started to celebrate and reminisce. The Commanders won each of their three Super Bowls while playing home games at RFK Stadium. Since moving to Landover, Maryland, the franchise has won just two playoff games in 27 years.
“I grew up going to RFK. …” Commanders fan Kenneth Grandon wrote on X. “Such special memories. I never went to a losing game there. Now at least there’s hope for a new stadium to renew those memories again. Incredible day.”
“This would be the greatest Christmas present ever,” another fan wrote.
Despite the undeniable nostalgia attached to the site in Northeast, D.C., Maryland officials, including Gov. Wes Moore, have said they will try to keep the Commanders from moving back to the District.
“We could start building the stadium immediately,” Congressman Glenn Ivey told ABC-7. “They can continue to play where they are while they build a new one next to it that would be an indoor stadium, so it would be a pretty seamless transition, I think, from the team’s standpoint.”
The Commanders’ lease to play in Northwest Stadium, which Harris owns, continues through 2027. Harris has previously said he hopes to have a new home for the team ready in time for the 2030 season.
For many longtime fans of the franchise, a return to RFK Stadium would be the perfect full-circle moment after decades of mediocrity.
The team has started to build momentum since former owner Dan Snyder sold the franchise in 2023, adding a new coach, general manager and president.
On the field, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has set the league on fire, leading the Commanders to their first winning season since 2016 while ranking first in the NFC in Pro Bowl voting.
