(Reuters) – The Washington Commanders are returning to the nation’s capital after reaching a deal with the District of Columbia to build a stadium on the site where the National Football League team enjoyed their greatest success.
The Commanders, who have played home games in Landover, Maryland, since 1997, will pay $2.7 billion to build a roofed stadium and the district will invest $500 million, the two sides said in a joint press release on Monday.
The decision marked a return to the site of the club’s former RFK Stadium where Washington played from 1961-96, during which the team won three Super Bowl championships and enjoyed the most successful era in the franchise’s history.
“RFK Stadium holds a legendary place in our history – it’s where the team dominated the NFL, capturing three Super Bowls and creating unforgettable memories for fans,” Commanders Managing Partner Josh Harris said.
“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.”
The stadium, which will be able to host events year-round, will seat about 65,000 people and is expected to open in 2030.
The Commanders will also be responsible for developing land around the stadium with restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, housing and green space.
Harris led a group that purchased the Commanders in 2023 for $6.05 billion, which at the time was a record sum for a North American sports franchise.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
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