WASHINGTON (7News) — It appears that the billion-dollar deal to bring professional football back to the District is heading into overtime.
Originally, the Washington Commanders’ proposal to move from Maryland to RFK’s old site in D.C. was placed in the city’s budget to be voted on July 15.
Now, that timeline has changed because D.C. councilmembers now want more time to study the plan and conduct public hearings.
We caught up with Mayor Muriel Bowser today, who addressed hundreds of people at a business event.
“We know that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We also know that we have to seize the moment,” Mayor Bowser said.
D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson recently secured a proposal to delay the Commanders’ July 15 deadline to finalize the deal. Funding for the stadium will still be in the July 15 budget.
The part removed from the budget includes much of the redevelopment around the facility.
Bowser responded to this development, saying:
I’m very concerned about it because it’s not in line with our agreement with the team.
Chair Mendelson’s proposal calls for an additional two weeks for him and other councilmembers to study the complex plan, while also holding public hearings.
Mendelson specifically wants to better understand the finances supporting all the redevelopment that will take place on a campus around the new stadium, including new housing and retail.
Mendelson has made it clear that he has no intention of jeopardizing the deal, but would very much like the opportunity to improve upon it.
Mayor Bowser believes now is the time for decisiveness.
“Sometimes a window of opportunity opens, and we don’t know how soon it’s going to close. So, the way I live my life is I get through the window, right? We don’t want the window of opportunity to close on RFK,” Bowser exclaimed.
Look for those public hearings in late July.
As for the Commanders, they made it clear in a statement that they are hopeful the Council will work in an expedited manner to finalize this deal.