DC Council pushes RFK Stadium approval back with studies and public hearing deadlines
The DC Council has postponed its deadline for approving a development deal at the RFK Stadium site, which involves the construction of a new football stadium for the Washington commanders. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team are advocating for a $3.7 billion agreement that would see the Commanders contribute $2.7 billion while the city would cover around $1 billion. Though, council chairman Phil Mendelson expressed doubts about meeting the original deadline and indicated that several studies must be completed first, including an economic analysis and a review of proposed tax breaks. Public hearings are scheduled for late July with a potential vote in the fall. According to a recent poll, 55% of surveyed D.C. residents support the plan, though some council members feel improvements are necessary.The Commanders emphasize the urgency of a decision to maintain their timeline for stadium completion by the 2030 season.President Trump has also commented positively on the proposed project.
DC Council pushes RFK Stadium approval back with studies and public hearing deadlines
The Council of the District of Columbia is moving back its deadline for a stadium deal at the abandoned RFK Stadium grounds with the Washington Commanders.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team are pushing for the council to approve a $3.7 billion deal by July 15 to build a 65,000-seat football stadium. Per the deal, the team will contribute nearly $2.7 billion, and the city will fund about $1 billion.
Some council members have been apprehensive about the plan. Chairman Phil Mendelson said the deadline would not be met and noted that council members would have a clearer grasp on the deal after the completion of three studies.
The studies include an economic analysis from the council’s budget office, the district chief financial officer’s findings on proposed tax breaks, and an outside commissioned sports study on the project.
Public hearings are set for late July, after the mayor’s proposed deadline. A vote will likely be held this fall.
A Washington Post-Schar School poll found that of the 651 D.C. residents surveyed, 55% support the plan compared to 39% who oppose it. The council is still expected to approve the plan, but some have expressed the need for change.
“The mayor thinks that her deal is perfect, and that’s great for her,” Councilwoman Christina Henderson told the Washington Post last month. “I feel like there are areas where we can certainly improve.”
Under the current plan, the stadium will be completed and ready for the 2030 season. The Commanders have expressed concern about moving the timeline back.
“We feel real urgency that we need to have a decision from the council as quickly as possible to stay on a 2030 track,” Andy VanHorn, head of real estate for the Commanders, told Axios.
“If we slip past August, it gets more like a 2031 delivery because we have to be moving utilities mid to early next year,” he added.
According to Axios, the Commanders’ staff took council members to an upscale dinner in Washington in a likely effort to win them over.
MOST DC RESIDENTS WANT PROPOSED COMMANDERS STADIUM AS CITY COUNCIL TEETERS
President Donald Trump commented Sunday that he “saw the plan” and the stadium.
“The owner is very, very successful and a very good man. I know a little bit, and it would be a great place for the NFL to be there, I can tell you that. So if they want to negotiate a little tough, that’s OK,” Trump said.
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