John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — On April 28, Washington Commanders proprietor Josh Harris addressed a bunch of reporters shortly after placing one of many largest offers in latest franchise historical past.
Harris — seated in a darkish swimsuit alongside D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell — with a burgundy Commanders pin on his lapel, wore the expression of an athlete who had simply received a giant recreation.
Earlier than the questions even started, the Maryland native who grew up a fan of the group he purchased from earlier proprietor Dan Snyder for a then-record $6.05 billion in 2023 smiled as he gripped the bottom of the microphone stationed on the desk in entrance of him and leaned in to talk.
“What a tremendous day,” Harris mentioned, earlier than clearing his throat. “It is an awesome day in our course of to deliver the Commanders residence.”
Transferring away from Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, and bringing the Commanders residence was the explanation all events had gathered that day. Hours earlier than, the group and the District of Columbia had introduced an settlement to construct a brand new 65,000-seat stadium on the previous RFK Stadium website within the metropolis. From 1961 to 1996, it had served because the religious residence for Washington soccer's glory days, internet hosting groups that received 5 convention titles and three Tremendous Bowls whereas turning into one of many NFL's marquee franchises.
For Harris, who grew up attending video games at RFK, bringing Washington again to the location was about reconnecting it to that storied previous whereas additionally making an attempt to clean away the recollections of the earlier 24 years when underneath the stewardship of Snyder — a interval that featured extra identify adjustments and congressional investigations than playoff seasons. The April announcement marked a serious step towards making that dream a actuality.
To make use of a soccer analogy, that April take care of the town gave the Commanders' return to RFK first-and-goal from 10 yards out.
On Friday, the method Harris spoke about was pushed over the road when the D.C. Council voted to approve the stadium and plans for the 174-acre website. It must vote once more on Sept. 17, however a number of sources from each side with data of the method mentioned that may nearly assuredly simply be a affirmation of the primary vote.
That is why Harris, Bowser — who has championed this return for greater than a decade — the town and Commanders followers are actually celebrating a Washington triumph that was nearly three years within the making.
The brand new stadium, which can open in 2030, will characterize the subsequent — and maybe most long-lasting — step within the franchise's renaissance underneath Harris and his possession group, which is why Harris seemed so happy when chatting with reporters alongside Bowers and Goodell final spring.
“For me, it is recollections,” Harris mentioned. “A few of my happiest days have been cheering for the previous group watching the Tremendous Bowls, watching the greats. For me to have the ability to permit for the town to have the identical pleasure I had rising up that we have been lacking for therefore a few years. That is what it comes right down to. It is a tremendous feeling.”
Here's a timeline of how Washington's RFK return turned a actuality:
Nov. 2, 2022: The Snyders' bombshell announcement
Two weeks after saying they'd no purpose to think about promoting the Commanders, homeowners Dan and Tanya Snyder pivoted — laborious — amid strain from fellow NFL homeowners to take action.
The announcement of their intentions to promote the franchise was the most important catalyst, sources from each side with data of the method mentioned, for the franchise's eventual return to RFK.
When requested if the group and metropolis could be on this place had Snyder remained in cost, one council member provided a easy reply: “Nope.”
Snyder had not developed relationships with the D.C. authorities throughout his time as proprietor.
Bowser informed ESPN in December that “there have been a variety of objections raised to the earlier possession and the route they took the group.”
A number of former group officers mentioned Maryland remained a powerful choice for a brand new stadium, even with Snyder, and Virginia would have labored with him, too. However attending to the district was not an choice with him as an proprietor, in line with group, metropolis and council sources concerned.
Nov. 9, 2022: A Home overhaul adjustments Washington's fortunes
A change in management within the U.S. Home of Representatives opened the door for progress on the stadium website.
The Home Oversight Committee, which had been led by the Democrats, had spent the earlier 12 months investigating the group for its office tradition underneath Snyder, however the tide turned when Republicans received the Home on Nov. 8 and James Comer (R-Kentucky) turned the chairman of the committee, which oversees D.C.
“The Dems' model of Congress was a nonstarter for us going to Capitol Hill,” one former group official mentioned. “A brand new session of Congress with the prospects of a brand new proprietor free of the entanglement of Congress, we had an actual clear slate.”
Washington group officers started assembly with members of the Home Committee on Pure Sources in addition to the Senate Power and Pure Sources Committee. In the meantime, Comer and Bowser developed a powerful relationship. Throughout their first assembly, Bowser knowledgeable him of her plans to revitalize the RFK website, which after all included a stadium.
After the listening to, Comer informed Bowser he would assist her get a brand new “area” constructed, however he meant a stadium.
“That location has sat deteriorating over years,” one oversight committee aide mentioned. “It was alternative to revitalize that vacant land; there was a push there on the time due to taxpayers' upkeep prices on that land. It was a possibility to get that off the books.”
In July 2023, Comer launched a invoice, co-sponsored by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), to do what the mayor had needed: deliver the Commanders again to the town. Comer remained concerned all through the method.
July 21, 2023: Josh Harris buys the Commanders
Inside per week of shopping for the group, Harris met with Bowser in her workplace, together with minority homeowners Mitch Rales and Mark Ein and their former vice chairman of public affairs, Joe Maloney, in addition to Bev Perry, a senior adviser to the mayor. Rales and Ein had carried out quite a few enterprise dealings within the district through the years, and have been well-known and revered.
However as one particular person within the assembly mentioned, they weren't there to begin brokering a stadium deal. The assembly, which lasted almost an hour, was described as extra a listening session for Harris as Bowser mentioned her love of the franchise and her want for the group to return.
One participant mentioned the vibe was “heat, enthusiasm, pleasure. It felt like all the things you hoped for and needed in that second occurred.”
After that session, Harris, Ein and Rales went to D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson's workplace for an additional assembly. Their aim, a number of sources current mentioned, was merely to begin creating relationships.
Bowser mentioned Harris' arrival — plus the group lastly profitable — would result in strengthened assist by district residents for a stadium. She mentioned residents have been “supportive of the group itself with the brand new management.”
Dec. 21, 2024: A congressional Hail Mary will get accomplished
Two months after finishing a Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears, the Commanders benefited from one other one on Capitol Hill. This time, as an alternative of an NFL opponent, they defeated the aftereffects of an Elon Musk tweet.
Congress was going to lease the federal land the place the stadium could be constructed to the town for 99 years. It was going to be included in a seamless decision invoice that Congress would vote on later within the week. However, on Dec. 18, Musk retweeted a tweet that included a headline about $3 billion for a brand new stadium in D.C. Musk mentioned in his retweet, “This shouldn't be funded by your tax {dollars}!”
No federal cash was ever a part of the bundle. The injury, although, was carried out.
“It nearly killed the entire thing,” one former group official mentioned. “We thought it was useless. [Congress members] knew it wasn't true, however there was a lot warmth round this. Individuals have been saying, ‘Sorry, it isn't value it.'”
That led to, as this official known as it, per week of political whack-a-mole as they tried to get the land switch restored to the CR invoice. The Commanders had “three or 4” folks on Capitol Hill lobbying for its inclusion. They didn't have the homeowners visiting senators, fearing the visibility of billionaires lobbying politicians would add extra gas to Musk's tweet. However Harris and Ein did make calls to these with whom they'd a relationship.
With 24 hours left earlier than Congress adjourned, the Commanders pivoted from the CR invoice to making an attempt to cross it by way of unanimous consent — 100 senators must be in favor. Only one objection and their RFK quest would die.
“A whole lot of last-minute offers to ensure folks did not present as much as say, ‘no,'” one high-ranking group supply mentioned.
Comer was headed residence, however he phoned U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), who was a possible holdout, from Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Airport. Comer defined why he thought it was a “good conservative invoice” and why he led it, one supply with data of the committee's dealings mentioned.
Round 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 21, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-New York, launched the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act on the ground. He requested for it to be handed by unanimous consent. Quite a few different unanimous consent proposals failed that evening.
This one didn't.
“It was like must-watch TV,” a Home oversight aide mentioned. “I do not suppose I ever watched the senate ground at 2 a.m. earlier than, nevertheless it was undoubtedly one second I look again on and can bear in mind for a really very long time.”
April 28, 2025: ‘Going residence'
After months of talks, one of many worst-kept secrets and techniques was introduced to a lot pomp and circumstance: The group and the town had struck a deal for them to construct a stadium. A information convention with a number of hundred folks featured Bowser, Harris and Goodell. Music performed. Burgundy and gold was seen all through the room; highlights from Washington's previous at RFK Stadium performed on a big display screen. A number of previous dignitaries, together with Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, attended.
The group mentioned it will make investments $2.7 billion to construct the stadium; the town would chip in $1 billion by way of numerous means to develop the 174-acre property — with housing, a sports activities advanced and retail retailers.
“With out exaggeration,” Harris mentioned, “this would be the greatest stadium within the nation when it is constructed.”
“To have a stadium that brings their group again into D.C., that is a extremely massive step and one thing that is been nice for the NFL,” mentioned Goodell, who additionally used to attend video games at RFK Stadium.
Washington senior adviser Doug Williams, who turned the primary Black quarterback to win a Tremendous Bowl when he led the franchise to a title after the 1987 season, added, “We're bringing the stadium again the place it needs to be. It is similar to going residence.”
July 20, 2025: The commander in chief threatens the deal
President Donald Trump threatened to intervene and pressure the Commanders to vary their identify again to their unique one or he'd scuttle the stadium deal.
The group didn't wish to touch upon his statements, and the mayor took a diplomatic tone. Sources from the group, the mayor's workplace and the council echoed the identical chorus: No person needed to check Trump's resolve on this challenge. They solely needed to get the deal accredited. Bowser had developed a working relationship with Trump, having flown to Mar-A-Lago in January and attended a information convention in Could to announce the NFL holding the 2027 draft in D.C.
“I've had the chance to talk on a few completely different events with the president about this website and about our group,” she informed ESPN final month. “And I can say this with out equivocation: He's a Jayden Daniels fan, and he mentioned himself, and the presser we have been at, that that is most likely the perfect website of any website he is seen for a stadium. I've to suppose that that is what I've heard him say, and that is what we'll persist with.”
July 23, 2025: D.C. Council paves approach for Aug. 1 vote
Council chair Mendelson reached an settlement with the Commanders to change the monetary phrases of the stadium deal, which one member of the group known as “a major step.” Mendelson mentioned the revised settlement would web the town round $779 million, whether or not from earnings or financial savings. Mendelson had lengthy expressed considerations, however this settlement paved the best way for the primary vote on Aug. 1.
It got here after extra relationship-building. On June 30, Ein and group president Mark Clouse met with eight members of the D.C. Council in an upstairs room at Café Milano in Georgetown.
One council member mentioned they didn't focus on specifics of the deal. Nevertheless, that particular person mentioned, it turned apparent that “this was not an everyday run-of-the-mill transaction” they have been concerned in.
“They've a soul tie to the district. For me, that was the primary time I used to be like, ‘OK, you are not simply jerking us round like, “We're additionally speaking to Virginia or Maryland.”‘ It was very clear that is the place they needed to be and had a variety of causes for it; loads was tied to non-public dedication to the town and recollections,” they mentioned.
July 29-30, 2025: Public hearings; the deal will get amended
On the first public listening to for the stadium proposal, greater than 500 residents signed as much as testify — one committee member mentioned they could not recall a bigger group. Mendelson grilled Bowser and Clouse on the phrases of the deal. Ultimately the deal was amended, and Mendelson mentioned the brand new settlement would web the district $674 million extra over the subsequent 30 years. He mentioned one other $55 million in financial savings would come from restructuring how the debt was financed.
After the primary listening to, he informed reporters he felt there have been the required eight votes to cross.
Aug. 1, 2025: The decisive vote
The D.C. Council accredited constructing a stadium on the RFK website by a 9-3 vote (it wanted a two-thirds majority). It nonetheless has to vote once more Sept. 17, however one particular person near the scenario mentioned that, of their decade-plus of working for the council, they haven't seen a second vote go a special approach from the primary.
A number of sources with the group and council mentioned the council has informed the group it could proceed with its planning after this vote, figuring out September would function a interval on the finish of a sentence.
Some council members mentioned they have been pushed by the concern of what would occur to the property in the event that they did not vote in favor of this proposal. There was no different plan in place to think about, they usually anxious one other would not come to fruition for some time.
“Congress provides the land and we spend 1 / 4 of it doing nothing?” this member mentioned. “We now have one thing to show to members of Congress who put their political capital on the road. The choice is we're nonetheless speaking about this land in 10 years.”
As a substitute, they're now speaking a few franchise returning to the place it had its greatest seasons. Washington pushed for a vote this summer season as a result of, as a lot because the group needed to return to this website, it additionally needed to open the stadium by 2030 so it could possibly be in consideration to host the Ladies's World Cup in 2031.
After what the franchise and metropolis went by way of to succeed in this level, something is feasible.
