Commanders Sale 'Perfect Time' for RFK Stadium Return

Could the best path moving forward with the Washington Commanders about to be under new ownership be going back to where the best years in franchise history were spent?

The Washington Commanders are on the verge of being sold and outside of any unforeseen complications Josh Harris will be leading a new group of owners who will look to bring much more success in this upcoming era than the last. 

To do so, the new owners of the Commanders will consider options for a new stadium project with one blast from the past remaining a fan-favorite and a potential possibility with a return to RFK Stadium back in the news.

"I think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity with the RFK site to re-imagine it," chairman of the Committee on Business and Economic Development Councilman Kenyan McDuffie told local news station WUSA9 in a recent interview. "I don't think it needs to be just a football stadium there...I think it should be a broader conversation."

This isn't the first time we've heard someone in a position of influence discuss a return of Washington football to the old stadium site, and it's hard to blame anyone who wants it to happen. 

From 1961 to 1996 the Washington Redskins called RFK Stadium home, and during that stretch won 288 total regular season games and 18 in the playoffs including three Super Bowls.

Since moving to FedEx Field in 1997 the franchise has won just two postseason contests and has a .426 winning percentage while claiming just one more NFC East Division title than it had championships in its previous home.

With the division created initially in 1967, Washington finished last in it just twice before the move.

Following it, the team has surpassed that number easily and had a four-year stretch of last-place finishes from 2008-11 alone. 

So it's easy to see why anyone would pine for the glory days of RFK Stadium even though we know the building didn't create the winning culture because the memories are forever tied to it regardless.

Of course, there is still plenty of opposition to the idea with many detractors holding similarly influential roles in the DC government. 

As long shot as it may be, we were once told it wasn't likely Dan Snyder would sell the Commanders without being forced out by the other NFL owners as well. 

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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