The National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders have selected a joint venture of the Clark Construction Group (one of the largest building and infrastructure companies in the United States), Mortenson (a major US-based construction, development and engineering services firm) and the Smoot Construction Company (a minority-owned and operated general contracting and construction management firm) of Washington, DC (US) to lead the construction of its new world-class stadium.
The enabling work to prepare the former RFK site for stadium construction began in June. Construction on the new Commanders stadium is anticipated to begin in spring 2027 with a targeted completion date of spring 2030.
Community Hub
‘commanders.com’ stated that the 1.8-million-square-foot venue will serve as the Commanders’ home field and a dynamic year-round community hub for sports and entertainment.
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area (US). The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a Member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East Division.
The 64,000-seat Northwest Stadium is a stadium near Landover, Maryland (US) in the Census-designated place of Summerfield, 2.5 miles (four km) East of Washington, D.C. It is the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders.
State-of-the-art Campus
‘commanders.com’ further stated that located at the site of the former RFK Stadium the new stadium will anchor a vibrant 180-acre campus. Designed to reflect the unique character of the DC region the approximately 65,000-seat enclosed facility will feature a climate-controlled environment ensuring a premium, year-round fan experience. The state-of-the-art campus will have the ability to host more than 200 events annually including the global sporting events, the concerts, the community festivals, and the national celebrations. Sustainability, the advanced technology and an immersive fan experience will be at the forefront of the stadium’s design.
The 45,596-seat Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as the RFK Stadium and originally known as the District of Columbia Stadium, was a multipurpose stadium in Washington, D.C. (US). The stadium was in operation from 1961 to 2019 with it being deconstructed and to be replaced with the New Stadium at RFK Campus by 2030. It was the former home of the Washington Commanders, then known as the Washington Redskins, from 1961 through 1996.
The New Stadium at RFK Campus is a planned $3.8 billion, 65,000-seat domed stadium in Washington, D.C., (US) scheduled to open in spring 2030. It will mark the NFL team Washington Commanders return to their historic former home location after nearly 30 years.
Lasting Legacy
The stadium and the broader site development represent a generational opportunity and the single largest private investment in the city’s history to deliver jobs and fuel economic growth. Driven by a commitment to ensuring the project creates a lasting legacy the Washington Commanders have prioritized both the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) participation and hiring the DC residents. This strategy ensures that the tangible economic benefits from the stadium’s construction will be felt by the DC-based businesses and residents for decades to come.
Best-in-class Venue
The Clark|Mortenson|SmootDC team brings together the industry-leading builders with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex, high-profile sports and entertainment venues including the local landmarks like the Nationals Park and the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as well as the premier National Football League (NFL) stadiums, such as the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and the 66,202-seat U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With a longstanding history in the DC region, a legacy of empowering the small and the local businesses and the extensive turnkey mega-stadium expertise, the joint venture is uniquely qualified to deliver a best-in-class venue while driving meaningful opportunities for the local community.
‘Shared Vision’
Maintained Matt Haas, Head of Construction, Washington Commanders, “Selecting Clark|Mortenson|SmootDC was about finding a team with the experience, local commitment and shared vision necessary to deliver one of the most important projects in our franchise’s history. Their combined experience building some of the most iconic venues in professional sports together with their strong presence in the DC region and the commitment to community impact made them the clear choice for this transformational project. We are confident this partnership will help us create a premier destination that serves our fans, drives the economic opportunity and leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
Enduring Legacy
Added Lee DeLong, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Clark Construction Group, “Clark is deeply committed to the DC region and honored to join forces with the Washington Commanders, the District leaders and our construction partners to bring this visionary project to life. The stadium represents an inspiring new chapter for sports and entertainment in DC serving as both a modern civic landmark and a powerful catalyst for economic growth and community connection. With a rich history of delivering projects that have defined the District skyline we share the Commanders’ dedication to creating a world-class entertainment destination and to ensuring the stadium’s construction leaves an enduring legacy in the DC community and beyond.”
‘Community Connection Catalyst’
Remarked Logan Gerken, Vice-President (VP)/General Manager (GM), Mortenson Sports + Entertainment, “Mortenson is honored to partner with Clark, SmootDC and the Washington Commanders to deliver a stadium that reflects the ambition and legacy of this franchise and this city. Our team brings the proven NFL stadium expertise – from the U.S. Bank Stadium to the Allegiant Stadium – and a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery that ensures Opening Day certainty. This project represents more than the exceptional design and construction, it’s an opportunity to create a world-class venue that serves as a catalyst for community connection and economic opportunity in the District for generations to come.”
‘Monumental Project’
Exulted Mark S. Cain, President-cum-CEO, Smoot Construction Company, DC, “After almost 60 years of being your hometown builder our pride and excitement in the new Commanders Stadium is beyond measure. We thank the Commanders and DC for entrusting us with another monumental project as we continue our legacy of making a positive impact on the neighborhoods in which we work, on minority and the small businesses that we work with and on the residents that work with us.”
‘Iconic Stadium’
Opined Muriel Bowser, DC Mayor, “Part of what has made the Commanders the right partner at the right time is that they are just as committed as we are to delivering an iconic stadium and in the process delivering opportunity for the DC businesses and jobs for the DC residents. CMS is the team that will get it done – they have extensive experience in DC and a proven track record with building the iconic sports venues. With this decision we’re one step closer to transforming 180 acres of land on the banks of the Anacostia into a world-class stadium and then housing, entertainment, park space, and more.”
New York (US)-based the National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and the highest professional level of American football in the world.
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