Commanders look for a place in history

Image: RFK Stadium, MSGT KEN HAMMOND, Public Domain

The NFL’s Washington Commanders are going back to the future for their new home stadium.

Talksport said with a new identity, having been rebranded from the Washington Redskins, seemingly functional backroom team and formidable team roster, all the franchise now needs is a glitzy new home.

No deal has been done yet but negotiations are heading towards a $3 billion agreement to build a stadium for them at the current RFK Stadium site.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Commanders have preliminary plans in place that involve the team paying for the majority of the costs for the build, while city money would go towards building up the rest of the 180-acre development.

The 56,692-capacity Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as the RFK Stadium and originally known as the District of Columbia Stadium, is a defunct multipurpose stadium in Washington, D.C. (US). It once served as the home arena of the NFL team Washington Commanders.

Image: RFK Stadium, NASA – NASA World Wind 1.3.5, Public Domain

The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington Metropolitan area (US). The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference East Division.

When Washington won its last title in 1992, RFK Stadium hosted a victory over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game before a Super Bowl XXII triumph over the Buffalo Bills in San Diego.

The team’s last game at its former home was a 37-10 rout of the Dallas Cowboys, which saw fans storm the field to rip up grass and take home burgundy and gold seats.

Opened in 1961 and owned by the federal government until 1986, the 56,000-seat arena has a storied history.

Image: RFK Stadium, wallyg, CC BY 2.0

When former owner George Preston Marshall refused to integrate black players in 1961, President John F. Kennedy refused the team permission to play at what was then the District of Columbia Stadium.

Marshall selected Ernie Davis first overall in the 1962 draft but the pick refused to play for the team and ended up being traded for Bobby Mitchell.

The franchise later signed four other black players with Marshall the last NFL owner to integrate.

Renamed in 1969 after Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles, the stadium hosted dozens of sports.

As well as Washington, two MLB teams, five soccer teams and two college football teams all called it home, while World Cup and Olympic soccer matches were held at the stadium, as well as boxing, cycling, motorsport events and marathons.

The last tenant, DC United, moved out in 2017 and the venue — which featured in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past — has been abandoned ever since, with urban explorers The Proper People giving fans a behind-the-scenes look two years ago.

That may be about to change with the Commanders keen to leave Maryland and return to the District of Columbia.

Owner Josh Harris has unveiled plans to invest $2.7 billion and create a state-of-the-art new arena on the site, which would be the toast of the NFL if plans are approved.

Demolition crews have already been spotted on the ground where the team wants to build a 65,000-seat monument to the future.

The move still needs to pass a vote from the DC Council and chairman Phil Mendelson says he doesn’t think it would get through at this stage.

But DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is on board, looking to bolster the local economy.

She said, “We are thrilled to welcome the Commanders back home to the sports capital.

“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.”

Maryland native Harris is well aware of the significance of his proposal.

“This 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. Now, we have the opportunity to honor 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, and sparking a new era of economic opportunity across the DMV.”

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