Mystery surrounds new Redskins stadium plan
WASHINGTON - There are reports the Washington Redskins may soon unveil plans for a new stadium, but the location remains a mystery.
Some people say the team's former home at RFK Stadium would be the perfect site to build a new stadium. The Redskins' current lease at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, expires in 2026.
Sporting a burgundy and gold hat, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told FOX 5 that team management offered her a VIP suite for Sunday's playoff game.
Could this be a negotiating move from the team? Bowser says she has not spoken to team officials about a new stadium recently.
"No recent conversations. I think, you know, our approach was to reach out to the team and let them know that we think RFK is the best place," said Bowser.
Councilmember Jack Evans has been fighting to get the team back to Washington ever since they left for Maryland. He says RFK has to be the place.
"And everyone agrees with this. I think you'd even get the Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe to agree that the best site is the RFK site," Evans said.
Some have suggested other locations, maybe near Nationals Park and the proposed soccer stadium. Councilmember Charles Allen is not sold on RFK.
"I think a professional football stadium gets used eight days a year, maybe once in a postseason every now and then. But it's not the type of activation that we need for our neighborhoods. It's a huge chunk of money that you have to put into something that doesn't get used all that often," said Allen.
Some city officials have said if the Redskins want public funding for a new stadium, changing the team's name would be encouraged or maybe even required.
Meanwhile, Maryland would like to keep the Redskins, and Virginia has expressed interest in the past.