A Little Stadium Story

 RFK Stadium was built/finished in 1961.  You probably haven't heard of it much....so a basic intro.

It was a multi-purpose stadium....being used for baseball and football. Seating?  Near 45,000.

It is on the upper NE end of DC.  

So, the big factor here....it was built with federal money....not a DC project.

Once the Senators left DC.....the use-dynamic decreased.

Once the Redskins found a better stadium....the only sport left for use was soccer, and the stadium was a no-profit situation.

Most folks would agree...it's in marginal shape, and ought to be torn down.

So it comes up in the news this week.  In this new fed-spending bill....the stadium would be leaving federal-ownership and becoming a DC-asset (meaning the city council is the owner).

Their intent?  To interest the Redskins/Commanders into coming back to town.  The city council seems to think that they hold something of value.

To fix the stadium? The design, lack of VIP booths, and parking situation....make it a money-magnet (meaning it can't sustain a profit).  I'd go and suggest that the Redskins/Commanders wouldn't touch this with a ten-foot pole....unless you agreed to tear it down and rebuild (using DC money of course).  So you do the math....has to be at least three-quarters of a billion to tear down the stadium and rebuild.

Would the Redskins/Commanders even come back....to DC? Why? I admit....they are looking to relocate (currently in Maryland).  But the chief interest is in Arlington. 

So....Congress 'gifting' DC some money to run/resolve the stadium?  That's the general story.

Final assessment?  By the end of 2025, the Redskins/Commanders say 'NO', and RFK Stadium is torn down in 2026. The city will retain ownership of the land and try to market it.