The stadium complex, estimated at $3.7 billion, including $1.1 billion in taxpayer funding, was designed by HKS, one of the world’s leading stadium design firms.
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Washington Commanders released a rendering of the team’s new stadium on the RFK site. These are the first published images of the team Planned $3.7 billion stadiumwhich includes $1.1 billion in taxpayer funds.
Commanders owner Josh Harris said the stadium will reflect the nation’s capital while paying homage to the old RFK Stadium. It looks like design company HKS has delivered on that promise.
The stadium can seat up to 70,000 people and will be large enough to host the Super Bowl.
It is aligned with the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol Building along Washington, DC’s monument axis.
“We are proud to unveil the first visuals of our future stadium, a critical milestone in the next phase of our development process,” Washington Commanders Chairman Mark Close said in a statement. “This moment underscores the strength of our partnership with HKS. HKS’ thoughtful and forward-thinking approach helped shape a concept that truly embodies the spirit and character of the District, worthy of its special place along Washington, D.C.’s Monument Axis. We are deeply grateful to the District and the Mayor for their leadership, collaboration, and continued support in helping us realize this vision.”
“From the beginning, we have been focused on providing Commanders fans with a best-in-class experience while respecting the heritage of RFK Stadium and our team,” Close added. “We are designing a stadium that will amplify the energy of soccer, support year-round events, and be a place the community can be proud of. We look forward to hearing feedback from the community as the design continues to evolve.”
The stadium has a transparent dome roof that is higher on the north and south sides but lower on the east and west sides so as not to obstruct views of the Capitol and monuments. The swooping roofline is reminiscent of the old RFK.
Open columns along the exterior introduce the connection between the stadium’s interior and the public spaces outside. At least 30 percent of the site will be dedicated to parks and recreation along the waterfront. The broader development includes plans for 5,000 to 6,000 new homes, including 1,500 to 1,900 affordable units, preservation of RFK Fields, new youth sports facilities, and the development of a hotel and retail store.
“These renderings have so much to look forward to in DC, including a beautiful and unique waterfront stadium and the return of the Commander in Chief, annual events just steps from the entertainment district and public transportation, and of course, new opportunities for jobs for DC residents and DC businesses,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We are grateful for the shared commitment of both the Commander and HKS to design an iconic stadium that honors our city’s history and skyline while also being a true catalyst for future opportunities on the RFK campus.”
Bowser, who is not running for re-election, has touted the stadium as a venue. 2031 NFL Super Bowla year after the manager expected the new stadium to open. The district and team are also discussing a bid to the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in North America.
The stadium was designed by HKS, one of the world’s leading stadium design companies. HKS has designed some of the NFL’s most impressive recent venues, including U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. HKS also designed AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys play.
“HKS is honored to be involved in one of the world’s most extraordinary sports and entertainment venues, and this project requires an equally extraordinary response. Every design decision is guided by the significance of the place, shaped by its local, regional and national history and the generations of memories rooted in RFK Stadium,” said Mark Williams, FAIA, HKS Global Venue Director. “Based on the L’Enfant plan and scaled to fit the district’s urban fabric, the bold, monumental stadium design will be a bold civic landmark that advances the city’s architectural heritage in a confident, dynamic, and unmistakably Washington, D.C., way.”
The company is known for creating bold, unique designs that make strong visual statements.
According to a press release announcing HKS was selected as lead designer in November, the company plans to transform 180 acres of the RFK Stadium site into a year-round destination for sports, entertainment, housing, parks and recreation, and neighborhood amenities including improved access to the stadium by subway.
At a D.C. Council Transportation Committee roundtable in December, officials outlined an ambitious plan to overhaul the transportation infrastructure around the stadium site ahead of the venue’s expected fall 2030 opening. But the stakes are high. The 70,000-seat stadium and surrounding campus, which could eventually accommodate 20,000 residents, would overwhelm the current transportation system without significant expansion.
WMATA General Manager Randy Clark told council members that the goal is for 40% of the game day crowd, or approximately 26,000 fans, to arrive by public transportation. Achieving this goal will require major investments in improving metro infrastructure and bus services.
In one of the first meetings with stadium planners, Residents emphasized the importance of preserving green space around RFK Stadium. Early renderings show the stadium set within that green space, with burgundy and gold design elements visible against the landscape.
Related: DC officials grapple with massive transportation challenges for Commander’s new RFK Stadium
The design for Commanders Stadium is currently moving through the district approval process. The National Capital Planning Commission could take up the design plan as early as its Feb. 5 meeting.
The National Board of Fine Arts must also review and approve the stadium design before construction begins. More renderings are expected by the day the commander completes his mission. Construction scheduled to begin on the former RFK site in fall 2026 The district is currently in the final stages of demolition of the old stadium, with the stadium structure itself completely demolished.