Featured image credit: Anders Krøgh Jørgensen on Unsplash
The Washington Commanders NFL team has announced plans to invest $40m (£32m/€37m) in renovations at FedExField, with the work to include new themed suites, ticket scanning pedestals, point-of-sale upgrades and updated branded imagery around the stadium.
The Commanders said the upgrades are designed to improve the stadium’s infrastructure and the overall fan experience.
Fans entering FedExField will see updated, team-branded signage across the stadium exterior and around the concourse, with supporters encouraged to arrive three hours before kickoff to enjoy live music, tailgate games and partner activations at the SeatGeek Legends Plaza.
FedExField will also be home to 12 new food vendors, including Hill Country BBQ, Pardon My Cheesesteak, DC Half Smokes, Paisano’s Pizza, Washington Grill, Capitol Kettle Corn, Fuku, Visitors Dog, Loaded Mac, Jerry’s Seafood, PMC Cheesesteak Nachos, Swizzler, and DMV Crab Rolls.
Three new suites have been added to the stadium, focusing on the themes of arcade, legends, and military. The suites are catered towards large groups.
The arcade suite features an air hockey table, classic games such as PacMan and NFL Blitz, and Madden ’23 on the Xbox. The legends suite is decked out with player lockers, benches, astroturf carpets and artwork commemorating franchise history, while the military suite celebrates past and present service men and women with custom artwork.
As announced in March, FedExField will also feature a brand-new sound system and video boards with upgraded graphics. Fans had the chance to experience the new system during pre-season games.
In July, NFL owners approved the sale of the Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris, founder and managing general partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). The $6.05bn transaction – a record fee for a North American sports team – ended the unpopular reign of Dan Snyder.
FedExField, which opened in 1997, once had a capacity of 91,000 but this has since shrunk to 62,249. Last season, the Commanders’ average gate was 58,106 but, buoyed by the takeover, the team has announced that its opening game of the new season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday has sold out.
Trista Langdon, senior vice-president of operations and guest experience at the Commanders, said: “We have the best fans in football – and they deserve the best gameday experience. These upgrades to FedExField represent an immediate and tangible step to improve that experience, something our ownership group considers a top priority.
“Not only are we taking care of our fans, we’re also taking care of our house. Fans will continue to see improvements throughout the season as we continue to invest and make changes to everything from basic infrastructure to a reimagined pregame ritual. We are excited for fans to come home and see all the changes on September 10.”
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