Yes, I’m looking at you, RFK Stadium site.
This would require Leonsis or the city — more likely, both — to put even more money up front for a new building and practice facility. That may not be in the cards. It’s just an idea. But sports team owners can, and do, put up their own money to build their new palaces, even in this day and age of public-private partnerships. Just sayin‘.
(And, yes, I’m aware that Josh Harris, who owns the Commanders and who also owns the 76ers, is looking to move the Sixers out of Wells Fargo and into a new building just inches from — ironically — the Chinatown section of Philadelphia. Just work with me here.)
The RFK site sits on 190 acres, including the massive parking lots that surround the stadium and the D.C. Armory. I don’t know what Harris’ vision is for a new stadium. I don’t know if he just wants to build a nice, new facility for the Commanders, seating 60,000 to 70,000, or if he wants to blow it out and go all JerryWorld on us — a behemoth of a palace, built for Super Bowls, World Cups and Final Fours and Beyoncé and Taylor Swift shows. AT&T Stadium seats 80,000 to 100,000, with the surrounding area housing 900,000 square feet of retail space, another 150,000 square feet of office space, an entertainment district and Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020, for the World Series champion Texas Rangers.
I’m guessing it’s the latter.
The Cowboys’ monster complex is on 135-140 acres of land.
The Wizards need about 12 acres for a new arena and practice facility.