The Washington franchise might soon be playing their matchups in Washington, D.C., following almost three decades spent across the river in Landover, Maryland, as they persist in their efforts to construct a fresh stadium in the nation’s capital. While the proposition to erect a $3.7 billion facility at the previous RFK Stadium location still awaits the approval of the Washington city council, mayor Muriel Bowser conveyed her dedication to finalizing an agreement.
Bowser’s passionate drive to conclude the stadium agreement arises amidst warnings from President Donald Trump to impede the team’s transition to Washington if it does not revert to its prior moniker.
“Allow me to articulate clearly, we stand on the 1-yard line, and it is time to advance across the line,” Bowser communicated to ESPN on Monday. “I struggle to conceive of having to commence anew on this. There exists nobody lingering in anticipation with $2.7 billion. Consequently, this stadium serves as a catalyst, and it shall entice supplementary investments. Any obstruction to its realization ought to be discouraged. When positioned on the 1-yard line, one aspires to carry it across, correct? That encapsulates all desires. No fumbles, no interceptions — let us simply propel it across the line. And that constitutes our area of focus.”
Regarding a prospective alteration of the name, Bowser indicated that such an eventuality is not something she anticipates the city needing to prepare for.
“What we must undertake as a city is to execute our responsibility,” Bowser declared. “And thus, our responsibility entails having formulated a commendable agreement, possessing a superior strategy, and having executed community outreach. The moment has arrived for the council to grant its approval.”
In accordance with the franchise’s proposal, which surfaced in April, the team could commence hosting its matchups at the new Washington stadium as early as 2030. Owner Josh Harris has emerged as an outspoken advocate for relocating the team back to D.C. since acquiring the team from Dan Snyder in 2023, and merely two years transpired for him and the organization to initiate the process of relocation.
The franchise possesses ownership of its current venue, Northwest Stadium, and retains the capacity to continue playing there until the novel venue stands ready for operation. Nevertheless, the naming rights arrangement at their present location lapses in 2027.
The predominant portion of the franchise’s historical timeline resides in Washington, where they competed from 1937-96, initially at Griffith Stadium and subsequently at RFK Stadium. They migrated beyond the confines of the district in 1997 after former owner Jack Kent Cooke brokered an accord to dispatch the franchise to Maryland, situated approximately nine miles as the crow flies from the former RFK site.
