Three council members have already expressed their opposition to the stadium deal, including Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who claims it would not pass in a council vote as it is currently laid out.

“If it was today, given the information we know, I would say no, I don’t think the votes are there. Members are concerned about the cost,” Mendelson said in an interview with Fox 5, expressing his concern over public funds being used in the deal.

The deal calls for the Commanders to contribute $2.7 billion for vertical construction, while the district would pay $500 million for horizontal construction and $181 million for parking.

Councilman Charles Allen called the proposal a “bad deal for DC,” urging funds to be spent elsewhere. Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau said she was a “no” on the deal, saying it is “not the right investment for our city.”

While three councilmembers have reacted negatively to the stadium deal, four have issued statements of support.

Councilman Wendell Felder, who represents Ward 7 where the RFK Stadium site is, said he is “thrilled” to support the deal, which he heralded as a “historic and exciting moment for the District of Columbia.” Councilwoman Brooke Pinto also called the deal a “major turning point” for the development of the long-vacant site.

“I am thrilled that the District and the Commanders have set out a strong framework for the return of our football team to return home to DC where they belong! The new development at the RFK campus will be the vanguard for housing, retail, hotels, and play space for our families and students,” Pinto said in a statement.

Councilmembers Anita Bonds and Kenyan McDuffie have also expressed support for the deal.

The remaining five council members, Matthew Frumin, Zachary Parker, Christina Henderson, Robert White Jr., and Janeese Lewis George, have not signaled whether they support or oppose the deal.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS ANNOUNCE DEAL FOR NEW NFL STADIUM AT RFK SITE

Parker said he is “not against a stadium at the site” but would not approve the deal without some conditions being met. He also said he would oppose using public funds for the vertical build of a stadium, something the mayor’s office said would be covered by the Commanders.

The stadium deal announcement comes as the D.C. Council prepares to work on the fiscal 2026 budget. Bowser has yet to announce her budget proposal for the next fiscal year, citing uncertainty about the remaining fiscal 2025 budget. The mayor’s office promised that the proposal would be released in the coming days.