The Washington Commanders NFL franchise has reportedly outlined three sites in Virginia for a new stadium complex as the team continues to explore options for life away from FedExField.
The newly-named Commanders have a contract to play at FedExField, which is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, until 2027. The team has been exploring options for a new home, with Virginia – the site of its training base and headquarters – and Washington D.C. having been linked as potential locations.
Earlier this month, the State of Virginia pressed forward with efforts to attract the Commanders to a proposed stadium complex valued at around $3bn (£2.2bn/€2.7bn).
The Washington Post newspaper, citing planning documents prepared for the project, has now reported that the Commanders are considering one site in Loudoun County and two in Prince William County for a proposed “mini-city”.
A stadium would serve as the anchor of the wide-ranging entertainment complex. According to the Post, the Loudoun County site would be located near a quarry in Sterling, while the Prince William County sites are based on the I-95 in Woodbridge and near the Potomac Shores Golf Club in Dumfries.
Virginia appears to be the frontrunner for a new Commanders stadium, although the Post notes that Maryland and Washington D.C. officials are “still engaged” in discussions with team representatives.
Last week, the US Congress saw the introduction of a bill which aims to eliminate subsidies for professional sports stadia. The bill was put forward by Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and Don Beyer, who cited the current situation around the Commanders as one of the reasons for its introduction.
The team announced its new ‘Commanders’ moniker on February 2. Following the announcement, team president Jason Wright insisted that the Commanders would be playing at a new venue in 2027.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement at the time, saying that the team’s next chapter should be “a return to winning, right here in DC”.
The Commanders played at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in D.C. from 1961 to 1996, before moving to the newly-built FedExField the following season.
Image: Anders Krøgh Jørgensen on Unsplash
