NFL Commanders building $3bn new stadium in Ward 7 on the old RFK site

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

Bingo. Anyone claiming that this is a good deal for DC doesn't know anything about it beyond what was laid out in the Commanders marketing pitch.

Plus this is going to be trumps Nazi stadium. Dont fall for it!

Assuming we're still planning on following the Constitution, Trump will have been out of office for two years before the stadium opens (slated for 2030, presumably the fall; his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2029). So "it'll be Trump's Nazi stadium!" is probably not the most compelling argument against the project that's out there. I dislike Trump and also dislike subsidizing billionaire sports owners, but let's not get carried away.

Trump already has 2028 merch for sale.

That doesn’t mean everyone should just go along with it! He can’t run for another term, no matter what he’s selling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confusing.

The deal is very popular with DC residents, including residents in the ward where it will be located. I get there are some vocal opponents to it, but they are people who would oppose any stadium deal at all -- people on CH who don't want the traffic, people who don't care about football and don't think any public money should ever be spent on a football stadium. Which is fine, but it's a minority of the city.

I dislike Bowser but think this is a decent deal. I love football but have never been a Commanders fan due to history with Snyder, but this might pull me around. I also live in an adjacent neighborhood and am excited about the idea of the RFK site finally being redeveloped and think the money this will bring to the neighborhood can only be a good thing. I'm also pretty thrilled about the proposed Sportsplex and think that's an excellent use of the city funds to help develop the site, and am happy they plan to not only keep the Fields at RFK but expand it. That area is easily reachable for me via the streetcar, so it feels like a variety of city investments coming together to actually improve quality of life for residents in NE/SE. Great.

So I'm confused as to why people think this deal will be the end of Home Rule. Presumably the council will eventually approve it because people want it, and no need for Trump or Congress to get involved. Trump likes the deal, and people in DC like the deal, so it seems like it will happen.

Are people proposing that we oppose the deal because Trump likes it? That makes no sense. I just like the deal because it seems good and reflects a massive economic investment in the city at a time when the city needs it, in a part of the city that could especially benefit from it. I don't care what Trump thinks of it, Trump sucks.

Please stop making stuff up and passing it off as fact. The most recent poll, conducted by the Washington Post last year, found that public opinion is split - 47% of DC residents support using city funds for a stadium and 46% are against it. But it's stupid anyway to reduce complex stadium financing schemes down to basic questions. What would be a meaningful exercise is to have a representative sample of DC residents study the term sheet and relevant studies and then give their opinion. Which is kinda why we have elected representatives to decide these issues for us . . .

There are good things that are included in the proposal, no doubt. The Sportsplex and the expansions of The Fields are good, as is the general plan to develop the area.

What is not good is the details, what DC will be paying for, and what DC will get back in terms of revenue (almost nothing). I encourage you (and others who are supportive of the deal based on what they heard at the press conference) to read this: https://www.fieldofschemes.com/2025/04/30/22661/commanders-stadium-plan-is-somehow-even-worse-for-dc-taxpayers-than-we-thought/ and this: https://ggwash.org/view/99327/a-commanders-stadium-at-rfk-will-actually-cost-taxpayers-6-billion

In sum, the deal has DC stuck with funding $500 million for what is essentially stadium construction and another $350 million for parking garages, but yet will not be able to recoup any revenue on property taxes (since the stadium, which DC will own, will be leased to the Commanders for $1) or taxes on sales at the stadium (which go to a fund for maintaining the stadium) or on parking (which are expressly exempt from sales taxes).

Meanwhile, SoFi stadium in LA was built with no public money.

I've been to a few events at FedEx and I hate it with a passion. I would love to have the option to see large events closer to my home and in a much better stadium. But I'm also a DC taxpayer and intend to live in the city for the foreseeable future.

Even if the city were flush with cash, I'd probably have issues with using our tax dollars to make billionaires richer, but it's straight up madness for the Bowser administration to be contemplating a deal as bad as this in the current economic environment. DC is bleeding tax revenue, losing jobs (and probably population), has a maxed-out capital budget, just took a hit to its bond rating, and will face much higher financing costs if bond yields continue to rise.

We all want nice things, but giving away money we don't have and won't get back just as we are about to lose our lunch is idiocy.

A newly released WaPo poll finds 55 percent of DC residents now favor the plan and only 39 percent oppose. Sorry this goes against your little narrative there:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/08/rfk-stadium-commanders-financing-poll/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert

This is the part that doesn't make sense. Is DC getting anything in return here? Why on earth are we leasing a valuable space to a corporation for $1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

I'm fine with it b/c the land doesn't belong to DC. It belongs the federal government. I'm tired of seeing a stadium that is falling down. I want the land used for something. There are many things that I hate that DC does, but this is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

I'm fine with it b/c the land doesn't belong to DC. It belongs the federal government. I'm tired of seeing a stadium that is falling down. I want the land used for something. There are many things that I hate that DC does, but this is not one of them.

DC has a 99 year lease on the stadium campus. That’s the next best thing to ownership.

There is absolutely nothing that stops DC from making money from the land - or opening it up to the public - rather than spending money to develop the land and then giving it away for $1 while ensuring we get absolutely nothing back in taxes.

The deal makes no financial sense, but the mayor and the council will get a nice suite and Commanders fans will be saved the schlep to Landover, so I guess that makes it worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

I'm fine with it b/c the land doesn't belong to DC. It belongs the federal government. I'm tired of seeing a stadium that is falling down. I want the land used for something. There are many things that I hate that DC does, but this is not one of them.

DC has a 99 year lease on the stadium campus. That’s the next best thing to ownership.

There is absolutely nothing that stops DC from making money from the land - or opening it up to the public - rather than spending money to develop the land and then giving it away for $1 while ensuring we get absolutely nothing back in taxes.

The deal makes no financial sense, but the mayor and the council will get a nice suite and Commanders fans will be saved the schlep to Landover, so I guess that makes it worthwhile.

The feds never changed the provision that a stadium needed to be on that land. It can't just be used for housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

I'm fine with it b/c the land doesn't belong to DC. It belongs the federal government. I'm tired of seeing a stadium that is falling down. I want the land used for something. There are many things that I hate that DC does, but this is not one of them.

DC has a 99 year lease on the stadium campus. That’s the next best thing to ownership.

There is absolutely nothing that stops DC from making money from the land - or opening it up to the public - rather than spending money to develop the land and then giving it away for $1 while ensuring we get absolutely nothing back in taxes.

The deal makes no financial sense, but the mayor and the council will get a nice suite and Commanders fans will be saved the schlep to Landover, so I guess that makes it worthwhile.

The feds never changed the provision that a stadium needed to be on that land. It can't just be used for housing.

Please stop spreading misinformation.

You can access the law here for yourself here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4984/text

I direct your attention in particular to clause (b), which states:

"Development and Uses of Campus.--After transfer of administrative jurisdiction over the Campus under this section, the District may develop and use, and permit the development and use of, the Campus for any of the following purposes:
(1) Stadium purposes, including training facilities, offices, and other structures necessary to support a stadium.
(2) Commercial and residential development.
(3) Facilities, open space, and public outdoor opportunities, which may include supporting cultural activities, educational activities, and recreational activities, as such terms are defined in section 3306(a) of title 40, United States Code.
(4) Such other public purposes for which the Campus was used or approved for use prior to June 1, 1985. (5) Demolition purposes to facilitate development and use of the Campus under subparagraphs (1) through (4)."

In simple terms, the land can be used by DC for a stadium but does not need to be used for a stadium. Housing is explicitly listed as a permitted use.

[Anonymous]

Henderson will be a yes vote because she thinks she'll be mayor one day, and a no vote will end those hopes permanently (it probably will result in her losing her council seat, too). Frumin, who is widely disliked in his own ward, already is reading the writing on the wall and will vote yes. White and Parker -- two more mayoral wannabes -- will vote yes when they get a very minor amount of concessions toward jobs and affordable housing and the like. That's seven votes.

The fact remains that any DC Council member who harbors hopes to replace Bowser some day -- especially if she decides not to run again next year -- cannot vote against this. It doesn't matter if this is a good or bad deal for the people of DC. It's just a simple electoral fact. DC residents want this to happen.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is confusing.

The deal is very popular with DC residents, including residents in the ward where it will be located. I get there are some vocal opponents to it, but they are people who would oppose any stadium deal at all -- people on CH who don't want the traffic, people who don't care about football and don't think any public money should ever be spent on a football stadium. Which is fine, but it's a minority of the city.

I dislike Bowser but think this is a decent deal. I love football but have never been a Commanders fan due to history with Snyder, but this might pull me around. I also live in an adjacent neighborhood and am excited about the idea of the RFK site finally being redeveloped and think the money this will bring to the neighborhood can only be a good thing. I'm also pretty thrilled about the proposed Sportsplex and think that's an excellent use of the city funds to help develop the site, and am happy they plan to not only keep the Fields at RFK but expand it. That area is easily reachable for me via the streetcar, so it feels like a variety of city investments coming together to actually improve quality of life for residents in NE/SE. Great.

So I'm confused as to why people think this deal will be the end of Home Rule. Presumably the council will eventually approve it because people want it, and no need for Trump or Congress to get involved. Trump likes the deal, and people in DC like the deal, so it seems like it will happen.

Are people proposing that we oppose the deal because Trump likes it? That makes no sense. I just like the deal because it seems good and reflects a massive economic investment in the city at a time when the city needs it, in a part of the city that could especially benefit from it. I don't care what Trump thinks of it, Trump sucks.

Please stop making stuff up and passing it off as fact. The most recent poll, conducted by the Washington Post last year, found that public opinion is split - 47% of DC residents support using city funds for a stadium and 46% are against it. But it's stupid anyway to reduce complex stadium financing schemes down to basic questions. What would be a meaningful exercise is to have a representative sample of DC residents study the term sheet and relevant studies and then give their opinion. Which is kinda why we have elected representatives to decide these issues for us . . .

There are good things that are included in the proposal, no doubt. The Sportsplex and the expansions of The Fields are good, as is the general plan to develop the area.

What is not good is the details, what DC will be paying for, and what DC will get back in terms of revenue (almost nothing). I encourage you (and others who are supportive of the deal based on what they heard at the press conference) to read this: https://www.fieldofschemes.com/2025/04/30/22661/commanders-stadium-plan-is-somehow-even-worse-for-dc-taxpayers-than-we-thought/ and this: https://ggwash.org/view/99327/a-commanders-stadium-at-rfk-will-actually-cost-taxpayers-6-billion

In sum, the deal has DC stuck with funding $500 million for what is essentially stadium construction and another $350 million for parking garages, but yet will not be able to recoup any revenue on property taxes (since the stadium, which DC will own, will be leased to the Commanders for $1) or taxes on sales at the stadium (which go to a fund for maintaining the stadium) or on parking (which are expressly exempt from sales taxes).

Meanwhile, SoFi stadium in LA was built with no public money.

I've been to a few events at FedEx and I hate it with a passion. I would love to have the option to see large events closer to my home and in a much better stadium. But I'm also a DC taxpayer and intend to live in the city for the foreseeable future.

Even if the city were flush with cash, I'd probably have issues with using our tax dollars to make billionaires richer, but it's straight up madness for the Bowser administration to be contemplating a deal as bad as this in the current economic environment. DC is bleeding tax revenue, losing jobs (and probably population), has a maxed-out capital budget, just took a hit to its bond rating, and will face much higher financing costs if bond yields continue to rise.

We all want nice things, but giving away money we don't have and won't get back just as we are about to lose our lunch is idiocy.

A newly released WaPo poll finds 55 percent of DC residents now favor the plan and only 39 percent oppose. Sorry this goes against your little narrative there:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/08/rfk-stadium-commanders-financing-poll/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert

This is the part that doesn't make sense. Is DC getting anything in return here? Why on earth are we leasing a valuable space to a corporation for $1?

Because otherwise, there wouldn't be any transfer from the feds to DC and the status quo would continue.

[Anonymous]

This is happening and it’s a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The opposition falls into a few camps:

1. The "I will not be happy if a single DC dollar gets spent on something I don't like or if a single new parking space is built anywhere in the city" camp.

2. The "I am mad that this deal was only ever considered for a stadium and I somehow believe that if we told the Commanders no then a developer would magically appear and offer to turn a crumbling stadium into my dream development entirely out of their own pockets despite absolutely no indication whatsoever that there is anyone even considering doing that but if we leave this crumbling stadium for another 20 years surely our savior will arrive" camp

3. The "I'm a suburban football fan who's terrified of DC so I hate this" camp.

I don't think it has anything to do with Trump, it's just people who don't understand economics, compromise, or city planning.

4. Financially literate DC taxpayers.

It's cute, though, that you think that those who don't understand economics are against public financing of the stadium. You have a lot of reading to do. You might start with these quick primers: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-economists-think-about-public-financing-sports-stadiums
https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

I am well versed in the principles brought up in your linked articles, but the fact that you think they apply to this particular situation clearly shows you fall into camp #2.

We're not "financing the new stadium." The DC funding is basically only going to infrastructure to prepare the site for development. That's stuff DC would have to do anyway for any other development, but there is no realistic "other development." The realistic options are "DC pays nothing and the site sits as vacant forever," "DC pays for infrastructure and gets a brand new development in a near-future timeframe," or "Someone maybe, possibly develops the site in the long-term future and DC pays for infrastructure anyway and misses out on possibly decades of growth." That's it there are no other realistic options and of those the Stadium deal is clearly the best.

Best out of those options, maybe. But why do we need to lease the site to the Commanders for $1? Why does DC not get a cut of parking revenue? Why don't the commanders have to put skin into the game for this? Why isn't the site being bid out to other developers to see what the potential revenue uses are?

Also, if the site remains empty and that is less costly to DC taxpayers then why isn't that better? DC tax are very high, if this is such an economic boon for the Commanders then why are they not financing it?

DC taxes are not "very high" as you claim. I've lived in DC for 35 years. I'm happy they are rebuilding the stadium in the city. I'm also fine with DC funds going to pay for the infrastructure.

Are you happy that the Commanders are being rented the land for $1/year? Are you happy that the ticket sales will not be taxed? Are you happy that DC is building parking lots but not seeing any revenue from them?

I don't see how any of this is remotely a "deal" for DC. If part of the deal is the Commanders coming back to DC, then what is DC getting in return? Sure, use taxpayer funds to revitalize the stadium but then charge market rent to anyone (including the Commanders) who wants to use it. Tax concessions and ticket sales and add it to the general coffer. Charge for parking on lots owned by the city and that money goes to the city.

I'm fine with it b/c the land doesn't belong to DC. It belongs the federal government. I'm tired of seeing a stadium that is falling down. I want the land used for something. There are many things that I hate that DC does, but this is not one of them.

DC has a 99 year lease on the stadium campus. That’s the next best thing to ownership.

There is absolutely nothing that stops DC from making money from the land - or opening it up to the public - rather than spending money to develop the land and then giving it away for $1 while ensuring we get absolutely nothing back in taxes.

The deal makes no financial sense, but the mayor and the council will get a nice suite and Commanders fans will be saved the schlep to Landover, so I guess that makes it worthwhile.

The RFK site is nearly 200 acres, many times the size of even the largest recent developments. The Wharf, for instance, was only 28 acres and cost nearly $4 billion to develop, and that happened when interest rates were near zero and the sky seemed to be the limit for DC.

In 2025 when the Prime Rate is 7.5% and DC is looking down the barrel of a gun held by its own federal government what possible developer is going to volunteer to fund a project more than 5 times bigger than The Wharf with no DC subsidies? It seems incredibly foolish to hold out hoping for a perfect unicorn when we've got a pretty good horse in the stable already.

[Anonymous]

Build whatever you want on that site - 295 is going to collapse under the weight of the increased traffic

[Anonymous]

Why is this thread still active? This is a done deal. Get over it. Go complain about something else. Most of you probably live outside of city limits anyway. It’s none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Revert back to Redskins and use a percentage of the merchandise sales for funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this thread still active? This is a done deal. Get over it. Go complain about something else. Most of you probably live outside of city limits anyway. It’s none of your business.

The stadium is the best idea, since they plan to build something there anyway. Don’t need more gentrification and amenities that attract more folks from outside the neighborhood throughout the whole year. The 24/7 traffic just keeps on getting worse.