(Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

The Washington Commanders cleared the final hurdle in their push to return to the District after the D.C. Council approved a $ 3.7 billion stadium and development plan on Wednesday, according to reports.

Lawmakers voted 11-2 to move forward with a 65,000-seat venue and a surrounding mixed-use project on the site of the former RFK Stadium. The agreement includes new retail, entertainment, riverside park space and between 5,000 and 6,000 affordable housing units.

Under the deal, the Commanders will provide $2.7 billion for the stadium itself, while the city's $1 billion contribution will cover infrastructure, utilities, parking and a recreation facility.

Team owner Josh Harris called the agreement 'transformative' in a statement, crediting the efforts of D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, council chairman Phil Mendelson and community leaders for shaping the project.

Momentum accelerated last December when Congress transferred control of the 180-acre RFK parcel from the federal government to the city, clearing a major obstacle. Bowser and the Commanders announced a framework in April, with the Council giving preliminary approval in August before finalizing the terms this week.

Tension emerged ahead of the vote as some lawmakers sought additional amendments. Commanders president Mark Clouse expressed frustration in a letter to the Council, saying the organization had been presented with 'unworkable and impractical' last-minute demands that threatened to jeopardize the agreement.

Mendelson said the negotiations had involved 'a lot of discussion' with the team and acknowledged the group's frustration with late changes. Most proposed amendments failed, but the final bill added requirements for stronger environmental standards and protections for heritage trees on the site.

The city's investment includes $500 million for infrastructure, more than $350 million for parking garages and $202 million for utilities and transit work. Revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, parking and advertising will go to the team, while D.C. will collect taxes on concessions, merchandise and parking.

Officials plan to break ground in 2026 and open the stadium in 2030. The Commanders expect to host up to 200 events each year, from NFL games and concerts to college tournaments and a potential Women's World Cup final in 2031.

--Field Level Media