Analyzing Commanders' announced return to RFK

Washington Commanders games will become an exclusive event for the rich and famous when the franchise returns to the team’s “spiritual home” in 2030.

Personal seat licenses, reduced parking and surely higher game prices await fans when the Commanders open a new stadium at their former RFK Stadium site. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders managing partner Josh Harris outlined their vision for the $3.6 billion stadium that includes a roof, 65,000 seats, 8,000 parking spaces and 6,000 nearby housing units over the 180-acre complex that includes 54 acres of open space.

For the nation’s capital, this is one big-money move. It’s the largest private investment in Washington history that Bowser described as “win, win, win.” All that money must come from somewhere, though.

Fans will miss that sorry barn now called Northwest Stadium where game-day tickets sometimes reached $5 and often sell for less than face value. Tailgating at RFK will be drastically slashed, with 8,000 parking spaces equaling essentially one-third of parking available at Northwest. And, PSL’s will surely reach low- to mid-five figures for merely the right to buy tickets.

Translation: rich folks will dominate the stadium. The old RFK often drew many Congressional members and local politicians, but there was still room for the Average Joe. Now, Joe better be richer than media influencer Joe Rogan to afford season tickets. Many Commanders fans will attend one or two games annually.

Still, there are some perks to this deal. The biggest is transforming the eastern gateway of the nation’s capital from run-down and forgotten to the new sexy part of town, just like nearby Nationals Park did to the southern gateway.

Goodell said a new stadium “dramatically” increases Washington’s chances of getting a Super Bowl. Well, sure given it was probably less than one percent beforehand. Proposed renderings of the new venue showing western view of the U.S. Capitol via a glass-enclosed end zone portal make it an exciting possibility, though.

RFK was considered cutting edge when opening in 1961 as the first of seven dual-purpose baseball/football stadiums nationwide. RFK is also the last to be torn down. Without the Commanders' return, the area would remain overlooked.

The final obstacle is gaining City Council approval. Only four of 13 Council members attended the downtown press conference, meaning three more are needed for a simple 7-6 nod. In a town of politics, there will be many backroom negotiations to come.

The star power in the crowd signaled this is nearly a done deal. Three-time Super Bowl winning coach Joe Gibbs and legendary players Darrell Green, John Riggins and Doug Williams don’t risk embarrassment over attending a failed promise.

Just remember, that 2030 opening-day crowd won’t be Jill and Johns in the stadium or tailgating. It will be CEOs because Washingtonians love events, and politicos and power brokers will be the only ones to afford the pricey price of admission.