Senate vote on RFK Stadium land bill paves path for Commanders to build stadium in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Commanders currently call Prince George’s County, Maryland home, but a move by the U.S. Senate means the team could make the nation’s capital their new stomping grounds. The U.S. Senate passed the RFK Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act by unanimous consent, giving the city the opportunity to negotiate with developers.

The federal government leasing more than 170 acres of land to the district at the site where RFK Stadium resides, means the Commanders have a much larger chance of getting their stadium in D.C. The federal government is giving the local government control over the land for the next 99 years. Now, the old stadium can be torn down to make room for other projects.

This comes after over a year of lobbying and support from many, including Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington, D.C., the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK Stadium site,” Harris said, via The Associated Press. “This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans.”

The league called the change “an important breakthrough” and said, “Washington, D.C., will now have a long-overdue seat at the table when it comes to the location of a new Commanders stadium.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it a “win for DC, for our region, and for America.” 

The bill must now be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

There is no guarantee this means a move for the Commanders, but certainly paves the path. The team has a contract to play at Northwest Stadium until 2027, but could extend the deal until they have a new stadium completed because the Commanders…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/senate-vote-on-rfk-stadium-land-bill-paves-path-for-commanders-to-build-stadium-in-washington-d-c/

Author : Shanna McCarriston

Publish date : 2024-12-21 16:38:00

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