A Christmas miracle? Senate approves bill to transfer RFK stadium land to D.C.
This gives the District an opportunity to build new housing, retail, parks — and possibly a new stadium for the Commanders.
It’s not yet the first day of Christmas, but it seems our true love spared us a partridge in a pear tree and instead gave D.C. 174 acres of prime riverfront land.
In a surprise move that a D.C. deputy mayor called a “Christmas miracle,” early Saturday morning, the Senate unanimously approved the bill giving D.C. expanded control over much of the aging and abandoned RFK stadium site, allowing the city to use it for housing, retail, parks, and a possible new stadium for the Washington Commanders.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis in February and was included in a must-pass federal spending bill unveiled earlier this week. But that measure fell apart amidst a right-wing revolt fueled in part by misinformation spread by Elon Musk and did not make it into the final spending bill the House approved on Friday afternoon.
But as the Senate worked to close out its business for the year early Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) presented the RFK bill for approval, which could only happen if no senators opposed it.
“If Congress failed to pass my RFK stadium legislation, this decaying land in D.C. would continue to cost taxpayers a fortune to maintain,” hailed Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who shepherded the bill through the House.
No senators opposed the bill, including Maryland’s two senators, who had initially given the transfer a skeptical eye, given that it may fuel the move of the Commanders out of their existing home in Landover.
And it looks like they were right. Shortly after the bill was passed, Commanders managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement: “We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington D.C. the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK stadium site. This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all our fans."
Meanwhile, the celebration continues. "The last vote of this Congress….wow!” tweeted D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At Large), herself a former Senate staffer.
"This is a win for DC, for our region, and for America," tweeted Mayor Muriel Bowser. "Everybody loves a good comeback story – and that’s DC’s story."
"With the District regaining control of the historic RFK site, we have an opportunity to reimagine its future and create something extraordinary for our city," said Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large).
"This site has the potential to become a world-class destination that includes a state-of-the-art stadium, housing, vibrant retail spaces, a multi-sport athletic facility to cultivate and showcase local talent, and more," he added. "RFK should not only be a source of pride for District residents but also an economic and cultural hub that attracts visitors from across the nation and around the globe."
The bill now heads to President Joe Biden for his signature.
