The Washington Commanders’ location search for the construction of a new stadium appears to have returned the team to familiar surroundings, following the announcement of a deal to start building in the vicinity of its former home at RFK Stadium.

DC mayor Muriel Bowser and Commanders managing partner Josh Harris unveiled plans to bring the team home and activate 180 acres of opportunity at the RFK campus, starting with the construction of a state-of-the-art roofed stadium. The announcement follows nearly a decade of mayoral advocating to get the RFK campus under District control. When Congress passed the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which was signed into law in January, it gave the District the ability to develop the long-underutilised space for a mix of uses, lifting the restrictions that were in place under the previous lease. The legislation also required that 30% of the RFK campus be reserved for parks and open space, not including a 32-acre riverside area along the Anacostia.

With the Commanders back in DC, it is hoped that the scheme will act as a catalyst for the transformation of the entire campus, including the provision of new housing, parks and recreation, hotels, restaurants, retail and neighbourhood amenities.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the ‘sports capital’, mayor Bowser admitted. “We said that we could do it all — Commanders, housing, park space, recreation, retail, entertainment and more — and, together, that’s what we are delivering.

“When we got control of 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia, we knew right away that partnering with the Commanders would be the fastest and surest route to bringing the RFK campus to life. As we focus on the growth of our economy, we’re not only bringing our team home, but we’re also bringing new jobs and new revenue to our city and to Ward 7.”

The approximately 65,000-seat stadium, which is expected to open, in accordance with Harris’ aims, in 2030, will occupy only 11 percent of the entire site and, because it will have a roof, it will be able to host events year-round. In addition to building the stadium, the Commanders will be responsible for activating and developing multiple parcels of land around the stadium with restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, housing, green space and more. The entire campus is expected to create approximately 5-6000 housing units, including at least 30% affordable housing.

As a fan throughout the then Redskins’ glory days at RFK, Harris was equally delighted to have cemented a direction for the team’s future home, having weighed up alternative options in both Maryland and Virginia.

“Today is a defining moment for the DMV and the Washington Commanders,” he said. “RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history — it’s where the team dominated the NFL, capturing three Super Bowls and creating unforgettable memories for fans. Now, we have the opportunity to honour that legacy by building a new world-class stadium — one that is also a once-in-a-generation catalyst for uplifting and transforming our region

“Working hand-in-hand with District and community leaders, we’re focused on delivering an incredible home for our players and fans, creating a landmark venue that reflects the pride of our nation’s capital, and sparking a new era of economic opportunity across the DMV. RFK was once a place our fans loved, and opponents feared — and we’re determined to make it that way again.”

Under the terms of the deal, the Commanders will drive the investment of at least $2.7bn to build a roofed stadium that can be used year-round, together with related improvements, making this the single largest private investment in DC’s history. DC Government (‘the District’) will invest $500m for stadium horizontal and non-vertical costs from the Sports Facilities Fee, formerly known as the Ballpark Fee. By leveraging such dedicated funds, the District will not need to make any cuts from the city’s operating budget.

At a time when the District is focused on responding to a shifting economy, the activation of the RFK campus through this deal is expected to create approximately 14,000 jobs in connection to the stadium construction alone and 2,000 permanent jobs, and the stadium and surrounding development is anticipated to create approximately $4bn in total tax revenue and yield more than $15.6bn in direct spending over 30 years.

Throughout the construction process, the District will seek to preserve and continue to operate the popular Fields at RFK. Additionally, near the fields, the District will build a new sportsplex that will host year-round sporting events and tournaments for youth in DC. The Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal includes $89m for the sportsplex.

The RFK Campus is readily accessible by many public transit options and the entire campus at completion will have approximately 8,000 parking spots, which also will be used by visitors to the rest of the campus.