The transfer of the RFK Stadium campus from the federal government to Washington, D.C., is included in the continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.
If passed, the city could negotiate with the Washington Commanders to build a new stadium at the site.
The continuing resolution was released Tuesday evening.
Congress must pass the continuing resolution by Friday before adjourning for the year.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has insisted he wants to use the regular rules process, which means the bill must be out for 72 hours before the vote, and it would have to go through the Rules Committee, which contains some GOP members who do not like continuing resolutions.
Johnson can fast track the bill, bringing it to the floor under a suspension of the rules. But in that scenario, the bill must get two-thirds support on the floor rather than a simple majority, so the speaker would need help from Democrats to pass it.
If the House passes it, the bill would be fast-tracked through the Senate so members can get home for the holidays.
Once the continuing resolution passes as expected, the D.C. Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser will need to come up with a package to convince the Commanders to build their stadium at the RFK site. The real test will be whether the mayor can find the financing — how much D.C. is willing to put up for a stadium.
“Now comes the negotiation, because it needs to be a public-private partnership,” said Lisa Delpy Neirotti, a professor of sports management at George Washington University. “And so the next step is to really have those discussions about what will the ownership group of the commanders bring to the table? What's the city going to contribute, and how are we going to get this stadium built?”
Team owner Josh Harris has said he wants the RFK bill passed this year so the team can move forward with negotiations. Harris has also said he wants to bring the team back to D.C.
Regardless of whether the RFK site gets a Commanders stadium or not, the land transfer is good for the District. It’s 174 acres of waterfront real estate next to a Metro stop, which D.C. very much wants to develop.
“As a city, we have worked for years toward the opportunity to transform a vacant, blighted sea of asphalt in the heart of D.C. and to put the RFK campus back to productive use," Bowser said in a statement.
"The potential is great – for housing and jobs; for sports, recreation and an entertainment district; for green space, better connections to the river and monumental views of our nation’s capital. The future of the RFK campus will benefit residents and visitors alike," the mayor said.
ANC Commissioner Chander Jayaraman said this step is a long time coming. He's lived in the area a long time, and he's excited about the economic opportunities.
“There’s a lot of people in my neighborhood, in this area that need jobs, and this is going to be pivotal in helping them get the skills that they need for long-term gain,” he said.
“If you're opposed to a new stadium, it's not exactly great timing,” said ANC Commissioner Ebony Payne. “But if you're somebody who, you know, is wanting new housing or new mixed use development, this bill makes that possible,”
She said the community needs to be involved in future discussions, and she wants to see concerns of her constituents addressed in the coming weeks and months.
According to a survey by the Friends of Kingman Park Civic Association last year, two-thirds of residents said they don't want a new stadium in their backyard.
“So a lot of people have gotten used to the quietness of the neighborhood, and so there is a lot of anticipation about traffic, what kind of crime it might bring,” Payne said.
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