D.C. Council split on whether to support bringing Commanders to RFK (WaPo)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/04/29/dc-council-commanders-rfk-stadium/

"Architects of a $3.7 billion deal to bring the Washington Commanders to the RFK Stadium site have framed the team’s return to D.C. as almost inevitable. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) celebrated the deal on Monday at a news conference, sitting in front of a burgundy and gold banner her administration had printed with the words “WELCOME HOME” written on it. Asked about D.C. lawmakers’ approval, Commanders principal owner Josh Harris said the deal “speaks for itself.”

But Bowser and the team need a majority of the D.C. Council to agree — and lawmakers remain far from united on the deal, which is expected to cost D.C. taxpayers more than $1 billion.

“This was a deal the mayor negotiated without the council, so I think it’s entirely appropriate that you’ll see the council now look to leave its mark on any proposal before it comes up to a vote,” said Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who opposes the plan.

Bowser is expected to include the public financing portions of the project in her 2026 capital budget submission, which administration officials say is expected in the coming weeks but delayed by Congress, which threw D.C.’s budgeting process into chaos by suddenly cutting local funds through a stopgap spending bill passed in March..."

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