Commanders owners anticipate possible stadium name discussion with President Trump
The Washington Commanders' ownership group is gearing up for potential discussions with President Donald Trump regarding the team's new stadium, which will be a focal point of attention when he attends Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium. However, no formal request has been made to name the stadium after him, according to a team source who wished to remain anonymous due to confidentiality.
ESPN reported on Saturday morning that Trump has been in "back-channel communications" with a member of the Commanders' ownership group, led by Josh Harris and comprising 20 limited partners, regarding his desire for the stadium to bear his name. This follows a statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who expressed Trump's belief that the stadium's construction was made possible by his presidency, stating, 'That would surely be a beautiful name.'
The stadium's construction is part of a larger $3.8 billion deal approved by the D.C. Council in September, which includes the development of a closed stadium on the site of the old Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, along with a mixed-use development featuring thousands of affordable housing units. This deal marks a significant milestone after years of lobbying and previous failed attempts by the Commanders to relocate to the District. The team's purchase for a record-breaking $6.05 billion from Daniel Snyder initiated serious discussions about a new stadium.
The relocation process, however, encountered challenges due to the federal government's ownership of the RFK stadium site. A legislative change late last year, passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, allowed D.C. to control the land for 99 years and expanded its potential uses, enabling the city to develop a mixed-use area alongside the stadium.
As part of the stadium deal, the city is contributing over $1 billion for stadium infrastructure, parking garages, utilities, and a transit study. The Commanders are funding the stadium's design and construction but will lease it back to the team for $1 annually. The team is responsible for maintenance and will receive most of the revenue from operations. Over the 30-year agreement, D.C. will receive $674 million in parking revenues, taxes on parking, merchandise, food, and beverages.
The team holds exclusive rights to sell and receive all revenue from naming rights sponsorship, a lucrative funding source for pro sports stadiums. Examples include SoFi's $625 million deal for the Los Angeles Chargers' and Rams' stadium, Intuit's $500 million naming rights agreement for the Clippers' arena, and Allegiant Air's reported $20 to $25 million annual payment for the Las Vegas Raiders' stadium.
Trump's visit to the game will be significant, as it will be the first time a sitting U.S. president attends an NFL game at Northwest Stadium and the first time one attends any regular-season NFL game in 47 years. He was also present at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February. Commanders' president Mark Clouse expressed honor in welcoming Trump, emphasizing the team's participation in the NFL's Salute to Service initiative.
This is not Trump's first interaction with the team's ownership. In May, he, alongside Harris, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Bowser, announced the 2027 NFL Draft's hosting in Washington, D.C., at the White House. Trump's enthusiasm for the stadium's potential was evident, stating, 'It's going to be beautiful... something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate.'
However, Trump's influence on the team's name change is notable. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he threatened to derail the stadium deal if the Commanders didn't revert to the Washington Redskins name, which had been denounced as a racist slur. The team's name change to Commanders in 2022 may have been influenced by these discussions.
