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The projected $3.7 billion stadium, which includes $1.1 billion in taxpayer funding, is designed by HKS, one of the foremost stadium design companies in the world
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Washington Commanders released renderings of the team’s planned new stadium on the RFK site in an article published by the Washington Post. They are the first publicly released images of the team’s planned $3.7 billion stadium, which includes $1.1 billion in taxpayer funding.
Commanders owner Josh Harris has said this stadium would reflect the nation’s capital while honoring the old RFK Stadium. Design firm HKS appears to have delivered on that promise.
The stadium will hold up to 70,000 people, making it large enough to host a Super Bowl.
It sits along DC’s Monumental Axis, in a straight line with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol.
“We are proud to share the first visuals of our future stadium, a defining milestone in the next phase of the development process,” said Mark Clouse, President of the Washington Commanders in a statement. “This moment underscores the strength of our partnership with HKS, whose thoughtful, forward-looking approach has helped us shape a concept that is worthy of its extraordinary site along DC’s Monumental Axis and truly embodies the spirit and character of the District. We are deeply grateful to the District and the Mayor for their leadership, collaboration, and continued support, which have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.
“From the beginning, our focus has been on delivering a best -in-class experience for Commanders fans while honoring the legacy of RFK Stadium and our team,” Clouse added. “We’re designing a stadium that amplifies the energy of football, supports year -round events and becomes a place the community can be proud of. We look forward to hearing feedback from our community as the design continues to evolve.”
The stadium features a transparent domed roof that rises on the north and south sides but stays lower on the east and west to avoid blocking views of the Capitol and monuments. The swooping roofline echoes the old RFK.
Open columns along the exterior will introduce the connection between the stadium’s interior with the public spaces outside. At least 30% 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 the Fields at RFK, new youth sports facilities, and hotel and retail development.
“These renderings give DC a lot to look forward to – a beautiful and unique waterfront stadium and the return of our Commanders; year-round events that are steps away from an entertainment district and public transportation; and, of course, jobs for DC residents and new opportunities for DC businesses,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I’m grateful for the shared commitment from both the Commanders and HKS to designing an iconic stadium that honors the history of our city – and our skyline – while also being a true catalyst for future opportunity at the RFK campus.”
Bowser, who is not running for re-election, has pitched the stadium as host site for the NFL Super Bowl in 2031, a year after the Commanders expect it’s new stadium to open. The District and team have also discussed a bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is being played in North America.
The stadium is designed by HKS, one of the foremost stadium design companies in the world. HKS has designed some of the NFL’s most striking 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 work on one of the world’s most extraordinary sports and entertainment sites, and this project calls for an equally extraordinary response. Every design decision is guided by the significance of place – shaped by its local, regional and national history and generations of memories rooted in RFK Stadium, ” said Mark Williams, FAIA, HKS Global Venues Director. “Monumental in presence, grounded in the L’Enfant Plan and scaled to the urban fabric of the District, the stadium design will be a bold civic landmark that carries the city’s architectural legacy forward in a way that is confident, dynamic and unmistakably Washington, DC.”
The firm is known for creating bold, one-of-a-kind designs that make strong visual statements.
According to a press release announcing the selection of HKS as lead designer in November, the firm plans to transform the 180-acres at 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 metro.
At a DC Council Committee on Transportation roundtable in December, officials outlined ambitious plans to overhaul transit infrastructure around the stadium site before the venue’s projected fall 2030 opening. However, the stakes are high: the 70,000-seat stadium and surrounding campus, which could eventually house 20,000 residents, would overwhelm the current transit system without significant expansion.
WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke told council members the goal is for 40% of game day crowds—roughly 26,000 fans—to arrive via public transportation. Achieving that target will require major investment in Metro infrastructure and bus service improvements.
In one of the first meetings with stadium planners, residents emphasized the importance of preserving the green space around RFK Stadium. Early renderings show the stadium set within that green space, with design elements in burgundy and gold visible against the landscape.
The Commanders stadium design now moves to the District’s approval process. The National Capital Planning Commission could take up the design plans as soon as its Feb. 5 meeting.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts also must review and approve the stadium design before construction begins. More renderings will come leading up to the day when the Commanders are set to break ground at the old RFK site in fall of 2026 with completion set for 2030. The District is currently in the final stages of demolition of the former stadium, the the stadium structure itself now completely torn down.
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