“Today’s vote is a tremendous win for the business community and our wider city and region,” the DC Chamber of Commerce said Friday after the D.C. Council voted 9–3 to advance the RFK Stadium campus redevelopment. “We thank the members of the Council who stood behind this transformational deal and voted to represent the interests of our businesses and residents.” The Chamber also credited the coalition of residents, workers, and employers who emailed, called, and showed up: “Your support helped achieve this win—the power of collaboration was on full display.” With a second and final Council vote due in September, the Chamber added, “Our work isn’t done yet, but today we can celebrate the momentum and get ready to help generate contracts and jobs for our community.”
The preliminary approval clears the biggest hurdle yet to bring the Washington Commanders back to the District, authorizing a sweeping plan for a new, roofed stadium and a mixed-use district along the Anacostia River. A final vote is scheduled for Sept. 17; if it passes again, the legislation goes to Mayor Muriel Bowser for signature.
What Passed—and What it Builds
The package envisions a ~65,000-seat roofed stadium targeted for the 2030 NFL season, surrounded by housing, retail, parks, and a youth sports complex across roughly 170–180 acres at the RFK campus. The team’s private commitment is $2.7 billion, while the District funds site work, garages, and related infrastructure—bringing the total plan to about $3.7–$3.8 billion. The deal approved Friday was the first of two required votes.
District documents project 5,000–6,000 new homes, with at least 30% affordable, plus significant public space and waterfront access. City estimates also tout ~14,000 construction jobs and ~2,000 permanent jobs tied to the campus, alongside long-run fiscal gains—about $4B in tax revenue and $15.6B in direct spending over 30 years. While economic projections vary by model, these figures underpin supporters’ arguments that RFK’s revival will catalyze investment in and around Ward 7.
How the RFK Redevelopment Deal Changed
Friday’s outcome followed a late-July rewrite by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson that captured more revenue for the city and strengthened labor and community benefits. Key changes redirect merchandise and food-and-beverage sales taxes to the District’s general fund, apply the standard parking tax, and allow the city to collect non-gameday parking revenue—shifting an estimated $674 million over 30 years back to the city. The revisions also reduced interest costs (about $55 million in savings) and established a $50 million Community Benefits Agreement.
Labor proved decisive. Union leaders announced support ahead of the vote, and lawmakers cited guarantees for union jobs and higher wages—not just in stadium construction but across the broader entertainment district—as a reason to move forward. Several previously skeptical members signaled that the strengthened labor, affordability, and environmental provisions tipped the balance.
The measure passed 9–3. Robert White (At-Large), Brianne Nadeau (Ward 1), and Matthew Frumin (Ward 3) voted no, citing concerns about accountability and the public price tag. White pushed amendments to add sharper penalties if the team misses mixed-use and affordable housing deadlines—proposals that drew interest but didn’t carry on Friday. Supporters argued the city captured enough additional revenue and worker protections to justify advancing the bill now and refining enforcement before final passage.
Under the current framework, the Commanders cover stadium construction and any cost overruns, while the District funds site preparation and related public works through existing and planned capital allocations. The Bowser administration previously outlined $500 million for horizontal work at the stadium site through the Sports Facilities Fee, plus ~$200 million for broader infrastructure (roads, water, utilities) to unlock the housing and retail components. Additional line items for garages and transit have been discussed as the council refines financing.
Business Community Reaction
For employers, Friday’s vote wasn’t only about football. The DC Chamber framed RFK as a once-in-a-generation economic development opportunity that will translate into contracts for local firms, opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses, and sustained hospitality and retail activity on a long-underutilized waterfront. “We look forward to working with local businesses and the Council to maximize local hiring and supplier participation from Day One,” the Chamber noted, underscoring a push to connect neighborhood enterprises to procurement as design and pre-construction accelerate.
Critics warn the public share—often cited around $1.0–$1.1 billion—demands tighter timelines and teeth to ensure the mixed-use build-out arrives alongside the stadium, not years later. The debate now centers on enforceability: how early and how steep the penalties should be if affordability or retail promises lag; how to calibrate parking relative to transit; and how to insulate surrounding neighborhoods from displacement while ensuring they benefit from the project’s upside. Expect those topics to resurface before the September vote.
RFK Context: Why the Timing Matters
The vote follows Congress’s transfer of control over the RFK land to D.C. earlier this year—removing a legal barrier that stymied redevelopment for decades. With regional competitors courting the team and national politics in flux, city leaders framed Friday’s action as necessary to keep momentum and lock in improved terms. The team, for its part, says the goal remains to open in 2030 and to act as master developer for the surrounding neighborhood.
Between now and mid-September, expect negotiations to continue on accountability language, small-business participation targets, and the sequencing of housing and public amenities. If the Council affirms the bill a second time, the mayor’s signature would clear the way for procurement and early site work, with housing and retail phasing in parallel to stadium construction. For businesses and workers watching the RFK corridor, the takeaway from Friday is straightforward: the project is farther along than ever—and the window to shape final terms is open.
Editor’s note: Quotes are from statements provided by the DC Chamber of Commerce following the vote
