FILE - Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris, center, is passed a helmet to sign next to District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, right, after announcing a new home for the NFL football team on the site of the old RFK Stadium, Monday, April 28, 2025, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE - People make their way to RFK Stadium in Washington before the start of an MLS soccer match between D.C. United and Toronto FC, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. D.C. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (11) catches a ball during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Commanders quarterbacks, from left, Marcus Mariota (18), Jayden Daniels (5), and Sam Hartman (15) drop back to pass during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn walks with guard Sam Cosmi before practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
FILE - Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris, center, is passed a helmet to sign next to District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, right, after announcing a new home for the NFL football team on the site of the old RFK Stadium, Monday, April 28, 2025, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
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FILE - People make their way to RFK Stadium in Washington before the start of an MLS soccer match between D.C. United and Toronto FC, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. D.C. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
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Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (11) catches a ball during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Washington Commanders quarterbacks, from left, Marcus Mariota (18), Jayden Daniels (5), and Sam Hartman (15) drop back to pass during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn walks with guard Sam Cosmi before practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The District of Columbia Council is set to vote Aug. 1 on revised legislation that could allow the Washington Commanders to return to the site of their former home at RFK Stadium, Chairman Phil Mendelson announced Thursday, describing the updated proposal as a win for the city and its residents.
The updated plan would support a $3.7 billion redevelopment project featuring a new stadium, 6,000 housing units — including 1,800 designated as affordable — and retail space and parkland across the 174-acre RFK campus.
Mendelson’s statement comes days after federal support for the stadium project unless the team . He called the Commanders name “ridiculous.â€
Under the revised proposal, Mendelson’s office estimates, the redevelopment could generate $26.6 billion in tax revenue over 30 years. The district would contribute $1 billion toward the stadium project, while the team would fund the remaining $2.7 billion.
“It’s clear that the Commanders showed through their negotiations their commitment to the district,†Mendelson said. “The process has been extremely productive, and they’ve been a cooperative partner.â€
Commanders president Mark Clouse — — welcomed the Council’s timeline.
“We are thrilled the Council will vote to hopefully support this project on August 1,†Clouse said in a statement. “With today’s announcement, the opportunity to bring the team back to its spiritual home and revitalize a critical part of the nation’s capital is one step closer.â€
The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, but aim to open a new venue in 2030.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who negotiated the original plan with Commanders owner Josh Harris in April, praised the new framework as “the most important economic development project in the history of Washington D.C.â€
Momentum for the site’s redevelopment accelerated after the House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, approved a lease that gave the city control over the long-dormant RFK area.
“It is time to unlock the city’s full economic potential,†said Comer’s spokesperson, Austin Hacker. “Congress empowered District leaders with the responsibility to revitalize the long-neglected and deteriorating RFK Memorial Stadium campus in our nation’s capital.â€
The ownership group led by Harris has been considering locations in Washington, Maryland and Virginia since in 2022. The most recent progress came when transferring the RFK Stadium land to the city that was signed by former President Joe Biden , after by Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell late last year.
That paved the way for making it possible to tear down the decaying husk of the old stadium and replace it with a mixed-use development, including the new playing field for the Commanders.
