Could NFL return to RFK? Washington Commanders in serious talks to build new stadium at legendary RFK site with D.C. support

In what could mark a historic homecoming, the Washington Commanders are inching closer to a landmark agreement with the D.C. government to bring the NFL franchise back to the nation’s capital. Talks are underway for a stadium and mixed-use development project estimated to cost over $3 billion, to be built at the site of the old RFK Stadium—a place the team called home for over three decades.

While the deal remains in its negotiation phase, a clear framework has reportedly emerged. Under this tentative plan, the Commanders are expected to shoulder the lion’s share of the financial burden. According to internal documents obtained by News4, the franchise could invest up to $2.5 billion into the project, with the District contributing an additional $850 million—primarily allocated for essential infrastructure improvements and capital development surrounding the 180-acre site.

The significance of this potential deal extends far beyond football. The Commanders would serve as the master developer of the project, spearheading not only the stadium construction but the development of a sprawling, mixed-use campus envisioned to feature retail, residential, and entertainment spaces. Such a transformation would redefine the RFK site and reinvigorate a community long awaiting revitalization.
“There’s no question that there’s some momentum,” team managing partner Josh Harris remarked after the Commanders’ recent playoff run. “And we would hope to capitalize on it.” That momentum follows a 12-win season, the franchise’s best in over three decades, capped by an NFC Championship Game appearance—a feat not seen since 1991.
The timeline is ambitious. Harris, who purchased the team in July 2023 for $6.05 billion, has made it clear that he wants a new stadium in place by the 2030 NFL season. The preliminary proposal calls for the stadium and associated parking to be completed by the fall of that year. To help finance their share, D.C.’s $850 million would be paid in installments—$500 million between 2026 and 2030, with the remaining $350 million covered in 2032 through tax revenues generated from the site’s redevelopment.
Despite the optimism, hurdles remain. Congress has yet to pass a necessary funding bill to restore D.C.'s 2026 budget, which was previously cut to 2024 levels. Mayor Muriel Bowser, while having secured control of the site’s commercial potential through the Robert F. Kennedy Campus Revitalization Act in December, must now navigate both federal bureaucracy and local political resistance, especially after a controversial $515 million deal to retain Monumental Sports teams downtown.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, a native of D.C., has openly supported the initiative, aligning with Harris’s personal ties to the region. “I grew up with a great stadium, and I understand what it’s like to play in a stadium where it’s hard for the visiting team to play,” Harris explained. “We’re considering multiple jurisdictions... but we need to have a great place where our fans can show up and as much as possible, we want that to be an advantage to our team.”
If finalized, the deal would mark a full-circle moment for Washington football—a return to its historic roots, bolstered by modern ambition and a new era of promise.
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