D.C. Council approves Commanders stadium deal, return to district - ESPN

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Commanders are going home. The D.C. Council voted to approve a deal between the team and the city, paving the way for the franchise to return to the district.

The council voted 9-3 — it needed a two-thirds majority — to approve plans for a football stadium at the site where the franchise enjoyed its best days.

The council must vote again on this measure on Sept. 17, but multiple sources involved in the process said the team has been told it can proceed with its plans after Friday's vote knowing the second vote is expected to have the same result.

Washington announced a deal with the city to build a stadium at the site where RFK Stadium — its home from 1961-96 — still sits. The 174-acre property will become a mixed-use facility with housing developments, a sports complex and retail shops.

The Commanders will invest $2.7 billion to build the stadium — and cover the cost overruns — while the district will contribute $1 billion. The Commanders have long targeted 2030 as the year a stadium must open, in large part so they could host more big events such as the Women's World Cup in 2031.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told ESPN last month she feels «very good» about the stadium being opened by then and added, «I think it could go faster.»

Bowser said the team could start infrastructure work the «early part of next year and get shovels in the ground this time next year.»

The stadium will be domed and while they haven't ruled out a retractable roof, the cost of one — plus the possible returns — likely would make that prohibitive, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The Commanders had considered staying at their current home in Landover, Md., but owner Josh Harris and his staff focused first