(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Save
As a fan, going to see the Washington Commanders in Madrid seemed like an exciting opportunity that was too easy to pass up.
While we could go on and on about the city of Madrid, which was an incredible experience, we are going to focus on the game itself and how the NFL’s decision to play at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium may very well change the future of the Washington Commanders, and potentially even the rest of the NFL.
What Washington Commanders fans should take away from the Spain game
Despite the loss, which might also be a silver lining (better draft position), the Washington Commanders did not seem completely down and out like they have in the past few weeks… And while that might not be much of a consolation prize, it’s worth noting that a lot of our core players are being sidelined with injuries.
Now, speaking of injuries, the Commanders’ game at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium did teach us something that we think all Commanders fans can get behind!
It is possible to construct a proper grass field that ensures the best possible playing conditions for athletes, without sacrificing the ability for a stadium to host other events like concerts that help generate revenue throughout the year.
Why is the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium such a big deal?
In case you haven’t seen any of the stories, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the home stadium of Real Madrid, one of the most valuable and popular soccer clubs in the world.
The stadium recently underwent a massive redevelopment that made it one of the most advanced stadiums in the world, featuring a grass playing surface that is quite literally stored below ground in a four-story climate-controlled greenhouse complete with infrared lights and automated maintenance, including irrigation, fertigation, and robotic mowers!
The estimated cost for these incredible renovations cost an estimated 1.76 billion Euros, equal to about $1.9 billion, which is roughly about half the estimated costs for the upcoming $4 billion construction project for the Washington Commanders’ new stadium at the RFK site!
Why should Commanders fans care?
Well, it’s not a secret that the Washington Commanders’ field in Landover, MD, has had some historical issues when it comes to player safety on the field.
In fact, the NFL Players’ Association (NFLPA) has been rallying for owners to use real grass for NFL fields instead of turf because of its lower injury rates, but many owners prefer turf as a result of its lower maintenance costs and ability to host events like concerts in the offseason to generate additional revenue.
As many consider the Commanders’ turf field “cursed” as a result of its notorious reputation for its role in several significant injuries to some of the NFL’s top talent over the years…
Adrian Peterson (knee) in 2011 Robert Griffin III “RG3” (knee) in 2013 Alex Smith (leg) in 2018 Joe Burrow (knee) in 2020 Jayden Daniels (elbow) in 2025
The Washington Commanders have a chance to incorporate cutting-edge new technology that would allow for a new stadium that has a real grass playing surface and is still able to host events in the off-season!
It may require some serious investment, but given what Commanders fans have endured over the years, this seems like an innovation that our franchise deserves.