DC mayor touts benefits of new Commanders stadium, but some residents remain skeptical

D C Mayor Muriel Bowser touted the economic benefits of a new Commanders stadium at the old RFK site at a group town hall in Ward on Thursday night calling it the fastest and surest path to help the city develop the land Related stories votes needed Here s where each DC Council member stands on RFK stadium deal DC residents leaders have mixed emotions about the RFK Stadium deal Nearly billion deal reached for Washington Commanders to return to DC A look at the districts that would come with the new Commanders stadium at RFK site DC Ward residents discuss proposed new Commanders stadium at RFK site During a two-hour locality meeting at St Coletta of Greater Washington Bowser described the expected impact of the nearly billion deal with the NFL franchise which would include a sportsplex green space new housing hotels and restaurants all anchored by the stadium Under the proposal D C would pay about million toward the project with the Commanders covering the bulk of the other costs Bowser disclosed city funding in sports projects such as Capital One Arena and Nationals Park has paid off But still specific residents of the neighborhoods near the project site urged Bowser to consider traffic impacts prioritizing local businesses and contractors and emphasizing inhabitants safety Our economic activity has shifted not because we requested it to but because the actions of the federal regime are requiring us to move very fleetly from an financial sector that has relied on federal jobs to one that is more diverse Bowser notified the packed room Part of diversifying our financial system is leaning into the things that are working and working well and our sports and entertainment economic activity is one that is delivering for us The D C Council still has to approve the deal which Bowser hopes will have the association opening the season in a new stadium Ward Council member Wendell Felder revealed the project will give the neighborhood an anchor a step he s considering essential because Ward has not seen its fair share of investments and now we have a chance to change that Frazer Walton a member of the Kingman Park Civic Association called construction of a new stadium good news and is hoping it comes with an Olympic-sized pool for neighborhood members to use I absolutely advocacy using citizens funds Walton narrated WTOP I absolutely sponsorship seeing millionaires come to the city so they can pay chosen of these taxes for us David Bagby meanwhile is hoping the project is developed in a way that is beneficial to all residents including maintaining green spaces But Bagby disclosed he s opposed to using constituents funds to help it because with all the job cuts in the region there s going to be specific economic developments that the city s going to need to prepare for Populace funds on a stadium would not be the best use of those funds at this time One resident explained Bowser that games aren t at this moment played at the old RFK Stadium site but there s still so much traffic in my neighborhood Others wondered if the land could be better used for other projects such as a new hospital One town hall attendee stood up excitedly and mentioned he wants to see the group win a Super Bowl Whatever that takes I m down I want a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue with my Super Bowl gear on Creating a Super Bowl-ready stadium facility Bowser revealed would put the city in a position to host events it as of now misses out on Taylor Swift passed us by Beyonc is in Landover so all these things are world-class events that a world-class city should be able to host Bowser revealed The city is planning to host additional listening sessions to collect society feedback Source