RFK Stadium
RFK Stadium deal at the goaline awaiting final DC Council vote
The Washington Commanders are sounding the alarm over last-minute changes to the long-awaited RFK Campus Redevelopment Act, warning that new demands from the D.C. Council could jeopardize a deal to bring the franchise back to the District.
In a strongly worded letter issued on Tuesday, team president Mark Clouse stated that the organization was “deeply concerned regarding the last-minute new demands proposed by the Council hours before the final vote.” The Commanders called the changes “unworkable and impractical,” claiming they could derail a $2.7 billion stadium and mixed-use development project slated to transform the RFK site.
The Commanders’ Position
The team’s statement outlined its frustration after months of negotiation with the Mayor and Council. “Less than 24 hours before the final vote, the Commanders organization was presented with a list of unworkable and impractical last-minute demands by Councilmembers, which we simply cannot agree to as it jeopardizes the deal,” Clouse wrote.
The Commanders stressed their vision includes approximately 5,000 to 6,000 new housing units — with at least 30 percent designated as affordable — plus thousands of new jobs and a long-term economic boost for the District. They warned that sudden amendments could limit construction, reduce the ability to attract major events, and hinder affordable housing timelines.
The RFK Deal at Stake
The RFK Development Act would greenlight demolition of the old stadium and open the door for a new Commanders home on the historic 180-acre site. According to WTOP, seven votes are needed in the 13-member Council to pass the legislation. A majority supported the measure in its first vote in August, and city leaders remain confident that final passage is within reach.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson acknowledged amendments were added, but emphasized they don’t change the major financial terms of the agreement. He said the new language clarifies elements such as the use of a $20 million transportation fund and adjusts the housing delivery timeline. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also urged the Council to finalize the deal, saying it is vital to “welcome the Washington Commanders back home.”
The Broader Context
Despite optimism from city officials, the Commanders argue that added conditions risk undermining one of the District’s most ambitious redevelopment projects. The team has already spent millions preparing the site, positioning the project as “a once-in-a-generation investment” that would also represent a landmark victory for union labor in D.C.
Community concerns remain part of the debate, with some groups calling for the protection of heritage trees on the site and assurances that nearby residents won’t be displaced. Supporters counter that the project is a redevelopment of a stadium campus, not existing residential blocks, and could generate wealth for residents through rising property values.
What Comes Next
The D.C. Council’s final vote will determine whether the Commanders’ long-awaited return to the District becomes a reality. Clouse urged lawmakers to stick to the core agreement reached only weeks ago, warning that further amendments could “limit or even preclude construction” and risk the economic impact promised to the city.
While the team remains “deeply concerned,” the opportunity to bring professional football back to RFK — alongside affordable housing and mixed-use development — is still on the table. Whether the deal survives the final vote will depend on how Council members weigh the last-minute demands against the once-in-a-generation vision.