For years, the Washington Commanders have been blasted for having the worst stadium and field in the league. Those days are soon to change.
RFK Stadium, the home of the Washington NFL franchise for more than three decades, was demolished last year. The team finally got the green light to build a new venue on the same site as RFK Stadium.
Out with the old and in with the new. RFK Stadium opened in 1961 and served as the home of the Washington NFL franchise until 1996. The Washington Commanders moved into Northwest Stadium in 1997 and have played here ever since. Their new stadium is expected to open in 2030 and will cost approximately $3.8 billion, according to ESPN.
The stadium is supposed to look so good that even Donald Trump wants his name on it. That won’t be happening. Now, the Washington Commanders have made yet another step.
On Thursday, the Washington Commanders released renderings of the team’s planned new stadium. Commanders owner Josh Harris has previously said this stadium would reflect the nation’s capital while honoring the old RFK Stadium.
Rooted in memory, propelled by state-of-the-art design
The first look at our new home pic.twitter.com/ceI14Tqs3z
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 15, 2026
The stadium will hold up to 70,000 spectators. It would also make it large enough to host a future Super Bowl. 30% of the site will be reserved for active and passive recreation. That means outdoor plazas, public spaces, and green areas surrounding the area. Those additions are expected to enhance the existing public park space, with the goal of linking the stadium to the Anacostia River’s waterfront.
tap the post pic.twitter.com/Ki2oyC8inX
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 15, 2026
Washington’s roof will be “anticlastic,” featuring a cable net system. It will create “the most transparent roof that will enclose a large stadium anywhere on the planet.”
The first renderings of the Commanders new stadium have been released : pic.twitter.com/hYCXpnAAy8
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 15, 2026
Construction of the new stadium is expected to begin in spring 2027. The Washington Commanders are one of several NFL teams listed that are in the midst of a planned stadium project over the next five years. Those teams include the Titans, Browns, Bills, and Broncos.