The National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders and the global design firm HKS have released the first renderings of the former’s new stadium’s – the New Stadium at RFK Campus in Washington, D.C., (US) – seating Bowl.
Unified Bowl
‘commanders.com’ stated that inspired by the now-demolished iconic RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., (US) these renderings bridge past and present by showcasing the team’s focus on recreating the loud, intense and intimate atmosphere that defined the franchise’s championship era through a continuous, unified Bowl. The new stadium will pay tribute to the history of the team while leveraging the latest technology and innovation to deliver unmatched live event experiences across all levels.
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, in the census-designated place of Summerfield 2.5 miles (4 km) East of Washington, D.C. (US). It is the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders.
The 65,000-seat New Stadium at RFK Campus is the project name for an indoor stadium in Washington, D.C. (US) scheduled to open in 2030. It will serve as the home venue of the National Football League (NFL) team Washington Commanders and will host other sports and public events.
The 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. The RFK Stadium was one of the first large stadiums designed to host both baseball and football and was among the first to use what became known as the cookie-cutter design.
Dallas (US)-based HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners, and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. The firm’s 1,800 people in 29 offices are united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance approach to design achieves design excellence.
Fan Experience
‘commanders.com’ quoted Mark Clouse, President, Washington Commanders, as stating, “Our vision for the new stadium is to create a world-class venue that honors the legacy of RFK while setting a new standard for the fan experience. Every aspect of the design is intended to amplify the energy and the intensity of the crowd, create an immersive shared viewing experience and bring the fans closer to the action. Through innovative technology and acoustics designed to maximize the crowd energy the stadium will deliver one of the loudest environments in sports while reflecting the character and pride of the District.”
Inside Out Design
Added Aaron Hollis, HKS Architect, “We designed this Bowl from the inside out starting with a single question: What should it feel like when every fan is part of the game? Every decision, from the steepness of the seating to the elimination of the overhangs, was driven by that question. The result is a single, unified Bowl where nothing separates the fans from the action or from each other.”
Key Design Details
- Unified Bowl: The seating Bowl rises in one continuous sweep from the field level to the upper deck thus ensuring clean sightlines and a shared viewing experience that amplifies the intensity of the fans. There are no stacked premium levels and minimal overhangs blocking the sightlines or absorbing the crowd noise;
- Bring Fans Closer to the Action: The design team increased the Lower Bowl capacity and improved the seating angles throughout the stadium thus bringing the fans closer to the action at every level. The first row is elevated above the playing surface for unobstructed sightlines over the sideline;
- Let’s get Loud: The seating angles, the unbroken Bowl and the roof design work together to capture the crowd noise inside the stadium and push it back down toward the field. The result: One of the loudest stadiums in the NFL;
- Wall of Fans: A dedicated section for the franchise’s most passionate supporters designed as a continuous, imposing mass of fans. The ‘Wall’ will include affordable, fan-friendly seating to ensure the loyal Washington Commanders fans can help create the most imposing home-field advantage in the NFL; and
- Videoboards: The innovative digital boards will deliver a dynamic, immersive game experience. From the large sideline boards to the paired endzone boards and the halo seamlessly connecting them every element works together to amplify the energy of the game. This unique videoboard system wraps the Bowl with continuous, engaging content that elevates the atmosphere for the fans.
The 2026 Season Ticket Members will receive priority access to season tickets at the new stadium when they become available.
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