Washington Commanders Stadium Subsidy Is a Billion-Dollar Fumble

This past spring, DC taxpayers were sidelined when the Washington Commanders announced that city aid would help fund a new stadium on the site of the vacant RFK Stadium. The $4 billion deal will be offset by a staggering $1.15 billion in public revenue.

So far, the taxpayer contribution is expected to include $500 million for “horizontal construction” (e.g., roads, sidewalks and infrastructure to get people to the stadium); $181 million for a parking garage; $175 million to purchase future parking facilities from the Washington Commanders in 2032; $202 million for “utilities infrastructure, roadways, and a WMATA transit study”; and $89 million for an indoor sportsplex for youth track and gymnastics.

Additionally, because the city will technically own the land and lease it back for $1 a year for 50 years, the Washington Commanders won’t pay property taxes on the stadium, and sales taxes on tickets and concessions will be redirected to a reinvestment fund for stadium maintenance rather than hitting city coffers.