RFK 2.0

[imref]

Figured this deserved its own thread.

A lot of info here: https://ourrfk.dc.gov/page/engage

[1995hoo]

I guess you could call it "RFK Jr."

[imref]

I guess you could call it "RFK Jr."

there’s no shot of that happening

[varoadking]

I guess you could call it "RFK Jr."

Brilliant!

[English Natsie]

I guess you could call it "RFK Jr."

Concession offerings will be different - all that wholefood. Park will no doubt have to be perfectly aligned to ensure best Feng Shui...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

French fries cooked in beef tallow!

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Measles Field

[imref]

It will be quite the challenge to avoid having this thread end up in politics, especially when the eventual effort is made to name the stadium after someone other than RFK (with lots of gold in its design).

[imref]

First DC council member comes out against the deal:
https://bsky.app/profile/brianneknadeau.bsky.social/post/3lnvodpjq3c25

They will have to deal with the “$1B for rich owners and fans” narrative.

[OfftheBat]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this hinder the Nat's chances of getting future public funding for Nats Park major renovations or dare I say, a new ballpark post 2037? More public funds for the Commanders = less public funds for the Nats, right?

[HalfSmokes]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this hinder the Nat's chances of getting future public funding for Nats Park major renovations or dare I say, a new ballpark post 2037? More public funds for the Commanders = less public funds for the Nats, right?

I think the nats are fine. 81 home games plus concerts brings in more money to the city than a stadium. The only way they get told no is if the city think Navy Hard would remain viable with an empty ballpark.

PG on the other hand is screwed. There isn’t remotely enough demand to justify redevelopment at fedex field

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

She is an "affordable housing" talking parrot.  There is some merit to questioning the multiplier effect produced by an NFL stadium vs, say, baseball, and municipal bonds probably aren't looking very attractive to investors rn...but I don't think that is where she is coming from.   

First DC council member comes out against the deal:
https://bsky.app/profile/brianneknadeau.bsky.social/post/3lnvodpjq3c25

They will have to deal with the “$1B for rich owners and fans” narrative.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think the nats are fine. 81 home games plus concerts brings in more money to the city than a stadium. The only way they get told no is if the city think Navy Hard would remain viable with an empty ballpark.

PG on the other hand is screwed. There isn’t remotely enough demand to justify redevelopment at fedex field

I was listening to Alsobrooks with half an ear yesterday or this morning, and I think she said that the Commies owner owns the land around the current stadium, so he has a huge incentive to turn it into something profitable when it is redeveloped. It's a big piece of land near 2 metro lines. There's got to be better uses than as a stadium. Run something like a dedicated bus lane like Alexandria has on route 1 for the metroway between the stations and put up townhouses and store fronts.

[imref]

She is an "affordable housing" talking parrot.  There is some merit to questioning the multiplier effect produced by an NFL stadium vs, say, baseball, and municipal bonds probably aren't looking very attractive to investors rn...but I don't think that is where she is coming from.   

Yeah, the "only 8 games a year" argument is used a lot against NFL stadiums, but this one is largely being funded by Harris & Co., so a bit harder to make the argument that the stadium will cost DC money.

And even the 8 games a year argument is specious. It's more than that alone when you add in preseason, plus concerts, pro wrestling, soccer, college games, etc. And, potentially playoff games.

One thing I didn't realize until recently is that stadiums get used quite a bit for corporate events. I was out in Las Vegas a few weeks ago for a conference that rented out Allegiant for an attendee concert. Granted Vegas is a different beast, but there are a lot of events in DC that could make at least some use of football stadium for activities. M&T Bank stadium even has a wedding venue.

[nfotiu]

A covered stadium in DC would get into Super Bowl, Final Four, FB National championship rotations, I would guess?

[KnorrForYourMoney]

And maybe get to host a WrestleMania (or SummerSlam, at the very least).

[HalfSmokes]

I was listening to Alsobrooks with half an ear yesterday or this morning, and I think she said that the Commies owner owns the land around the current stadium, so he has a huge incentive to turn it into something profitable when it is redeveloped. It's a big piece of land near 2 metro lines. There's got to be better uses than as a stadium. Run something like a dedicated bus lane like Alexandria has on route 1 for the metroway between the stations and put up townhouses and store fronts.

Is that worth more than the massive depreciation on an empty stadium? Saw a review of the deal- $1 a year rent, no taxes on the team, sales tax stays with the stadium. DC tax payers are getting raw

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Is that worth more than the massive depreciation on an empty stadium? Saw a review of the deal- $1 a year rent, no taxes on the team, sales tax stays with the stadium. DC tax payers are getting raw

well, at 30 years, I assume the Maryland stadium is fully depreciated for federal and state tax purposes, but the property taxes on the stadium would have to be made up. I don't think the stadium will stay up as it is.

[varoadking]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this hinder the Nat's chances of getting future public funding for Nats Park major renovations or dare I say, a new ballpark post 2037? More public funds for the Commanders = less public funds for the Nats, right?

Depends on how much Muriel is able to hike the taxes on DC residents and visitors...

[Natsinpwc]

well, at 30 years, I assume the Maryland stadium is fully depreciated for federal and state tax purposes, but the property taxes on the stadium would have to be made up. I don't think the stadium will stay up as it is.

I thought Harris had agreed to help with redevelopment?

[imref]

As of now, it doesn't look good for the deal:

https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/04/29/rfk-stadium-funding-commanders-dc-council-bowser

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I thought Harris had agreed to help with redevelopment?

Yes. HS was commenting on the stadium as a depreciating asset. I think it's immaterial to Harris at this point

[HalfSmokes]

Yes. HS was commenting on the stadium as a depreciating asset. I think it's immaterial to Harris at this point

He did, but who knows if there will be follow through. I don’t see any major developments getting green lit with the local economy about to take a major dive.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He did, but who knows if there will be follow through. I don’t see any major developments getting green lit with the local economy about to take a major dive.

build out of the area around the current stadium will be over a decade plus.

[varoadking]

Why not just stadium share with the Ravens like the Chargers/Rams and Jets/Giants do while they sort this out?  This isn't getting approved in the next 75 days...if ever...