The Washington Commanders have received the green light to build a new $3.7billion stadium in DC – despite Donald Trump’s threat to scupper those plans if they don’t revert their name back to the Redskins.
Trump says he intends to block federal support for the stadium project unless the Commanders change back to the name it formerly adopted before being axed in 2020 amid pressure from fans, sponsors and Native American groups who considered ‘Redskins’ a racial slur.
‘I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original “Washington Redskins,” and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, “Washington Commanders,” I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,’ the president said on Truth Social last month.
With Trump’s threat still looming large, the Commanders cleared another hurdle in their aim to return to the site of their former home, RFK Stadium, on Friday when the District of Columbia Council approved the legislation.
The bill pᴀssed by a 9-3 vote, though it still must be approved a second time by the council before being sent to Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who negotiated the original plan with Commanders owner Josh Harris in April.
Washington currently plays at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, but aims to open a new venue in 2030.
The Washington Commanders have received the green light to build a new $3.7billion stadium
Donald Trump says he will block the move if they don’t change their name back to ‘Redskins’
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After the bill was pᴀssed, Harris said on Friday: ‘Today’s approval by the Council is transformational for D.C. and brings the Commanders back to our spiritual home. Like many fans, RFK was the site of memories that fueled my love for this team and this city. Now we’re closer than ever to reigniting that energy for a new generation.
‘We’re incredibly grateful to the Mayor and the Council throughout this process for their leadership and guidance.
‘This is a historic moment. This project is about more than delivering a world-class stadium worthy of our players, fans and the region. It’s about revitalizing a critical part of our city, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking long-term economic benefits for the District. We look forward to working with our fans, residents, community leaders and elected officials to deliver on this vision.’
The ownership group led by Harris has been considering locations in Washington, Maryland and Virginia since buying the team from Dan Snyder in 2022. Congress pᴀssed a bill transferring the RFK Stadium land to the city that was signed by then-President Joe Biden in early January.
That paved the way for making it possible to replace the old stadium with a mixed-use development, including the new playing field for the Commanders.
Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s office recently estimated the redevelopment could generate $26.6bn in tax revenue over 30 years. The district would contribute $1bn toward the stadium project, while the team would fund the remaining $2.7bn.
However, Trump is now threatening to stand in the way of the project if his Redskins wish is not fulfilled. That issue did not come up in Friday’s council meeting.
The ‘offensive’ Redskins team name was scrapped in 2020 and later changed to Commanders
Currently, the old RFK Stadium continues to stand – despite being set for demolition since 2019
Fans and even some Native American groups have voiced support for the team’s new ownership group to revert to ‘Redskins.’ Several public opinion polls of self-identified Native Americans have found most were not offended by the term, while critics have pointed to academic research by the University of Michigan and UC Berkeley that found the opposite was true.
Trump appeared to reference the public polling in favor of a name change on Sunday.
‘Our great Indian people, in mᴀssive numbers, want this to happen,’ he claimed. ‘Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of pᴀssion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!’
He also demanded the same from MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, née: ‘Indians.’
‘Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past,’ Trump wrote.
