WASHINGTON (7News) — After months of debate, the Washington Commanders and D.C. Council have reached an agreement on revised stadium plans, clearing a path for the NFL team to return to the former RFK site.

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Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announced Thursday that the city and the NFL team have finalized a proposal to transform the long-vacant site into a multi-use development, including a new football stadium.

Mendelson added that the Committee of the Whole will hold a vote on the “Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025″ next month.

“Today we’re scheduling a vote for Friday August 1, 2025 to consider the RFK campus legislation,” Mendelson said. “We’ve been working with the Washington Commanders for several weeks and we feel we have a much-improved agreement that would bring the team back to their historical home, as well as develop the land around the RFK campus.”

HOW THE DEAL HAS BEEN UPDATED:

Revenues from the site: The term sheet provided that all revenues, including tax revenues, generated at the stadium go to the Commanders or to a stadium-reinvestment fund. The Commanders have agreed that the following revenues will instead go to the District:

$260M parking revenues from non-stadium-event days (team estimates ~$170M higher)$112M parking taxes (18% rate) will go to the city$ 54M Sales taxes on merchandise (10.25%) will go to the city$248M Sales taxes on food and beverages (10%) will go to the city

= $674 million total (over 30 years)

Community Benefits Fund: While the term sheet required a Community Benefits Agreement, no amount was specified.

$50 million Community Benefits Agreement, including a commitment linking youth sports with education

Team Offices:

Senior leadership and sales office will locate in the District

Development Milestones: The Council’s legislation will specify deadlines for completion of the development of different phases (e.g., affordable housing, retail) – with the acceleration of out-year rent payments as a penalty.

Other Changes Beneficial to the District:

The Council has restructured the debt financing by not capitalizing interest in Fiscal Years 2028 & 2029. This will save District taxpayers approximately $55 million.The Council’s legislation redirects $600 million from the “Sports Facility Fee” (formerly Ballpark Fee) to a Transportation Improvement Fund for Metro improvements.The Council’s economic impact analysis concludes that the stadium project will accelerate mixed-use development at the RFK campus by 11 years.The project will create approximately 6,000 housing units, 1,800 being affordable.Tax revenue over 30 years ~$26.6 billion from redevelopment of the entire RFK campus.Excitement over Washington’s football team coming home.City-wide, this deal sends a message to companies that DC is open for business.

“$674 million + $50 million + $55 million = $779 million Improvement,” D.C. leaders announced about the revisions.

This agreement comes at a critical time and amid outside pressure, including just days after President Donald Trump threatened to block the deal unless the team reverts to its former name, ‘Washington Redskins.’

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Public hearings on the stadium proposal are scheduled for July 29 at 10 a.m., with a full council vote on Aug. 1. Each witness will have three minutes to deliver their testimony or statement, but Thursday’s announcement marks a significant step forward in the city’s efforts to bring the team back to the District.

A hearing with government and team officials will be held on July 30.

The RFK campus has long been at the center of debate between city officials, residents, and federal agencies over how the land should be used.

Back in April, Managing Partner Josh Harris and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser agreed on a plan to build a new stadium on the former RFK site where the team played for 35 years before moving to Maryland. The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

See Mendelson’s full statement:

“Today we’re scheduling a vote for Friday August 1, 2025 to consider the RFK campus legislation. We’ve been working with the Washington Commanders for several weeks and we feel we have a much-improved agreement that would bring the team back to their historical home, as well as develop the land around the RFK campus.”

It’s clear that the Commanders showed through their negotiations their commitment to the District. And their willingness to consider what’s in the best interest of our citizens. The process working with the Commanders has been extremely productive and they’ve been a cooperative partner.

Overwhelmingly, residents have asked the Council for due diligence on this multi-billion-dollar deal. And under immense outside pressure to rush the process, I feel that, along with next weeks’ hearings, the Council will have what’s needed to move forward with a vote.”