WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — As the deadline for the D.C. Council to vote on a deal to bring the Commanders back home ticks closer, Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) is sharing more information about the timeline the Council is working on.
Under the proposed deal, the Council must vote on the stadium deal by July 15.
However, councilmembers have argued that the deadline is impossible. As of now, there is no date set for councilmembers to vote, and the Council is set to go on summer recess July 15 through September 15.
Mendelson would not commit to recalling the Council during the month of August to vote on the deal. Or, a date he plans to hold the vote.
“It would be incredibly extraordinary to call the Council back in August. I can’t think of one time in 50 years of home rule,” he said. “We are working well with the Commanders and as diligently as possible to try and get to a point where the Council can vote as quickly as possible.”
This week, the D.C. Council will vote on legislation to separate the Commanders deal from the budget. Instead, opting to vote on it as a stand-alone piece of legislation following two public hearings.
Those hearings are set for July 29 and July 30.
Meanwhile, the Council is expecting to receive three reports on the deal. Those include an economic impact analysis, a consultant’s report and a tax abatement financial analysis done by the CFO. The latter is not expected to be completed until the third week in July.
“We aren’t in a position until we get those reports to fully understand those issues, how they compare with other stadiums that have been built, how they compare with the development of the stadium and the auxiliary development,” said Mendelson. “I expect we will be spending the month of August working this stuff out.”
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Still, Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging the Council to act quickly.
“I don’t want to speak for the team, but we’re partners where we are in agreement and their agreement with us has [the Council] having it voted on this summer with the budget,” said Bowser last week.
Bowser believes the Council can vote by July 15.
“We have a window of opportunity. We have to take advantage of it,” she said. “Any and everything they need to get to do their deliberations, I think they have. I think they’re expecting their reports this week. They can focus on any questions they have.”
In a statement last week, a Commanders spokesperson said:
The Washington Commanders are committed to working with the Council around the clock to keep this project on schedule and deliver a world-class stadium for the District by 2030. This is about more than just a stadium: it’s an investment in families, local workers, and long-term economic opportunity that will transform this community, District, and the region. Any substantive delays will jeopardize D.C.’s ability to attract premier concerts, global talent, and marquee events—including the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Most importantly, it will slow new jobs at a time when the District needs them the most. We are hopeful the Council will continue to work in an expedited way to approve this deal and deliver a significant win for the people of D.C.”
Washington Commanders
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